159

News

Self-isolation on the way for visiting travellers – with punishments for those who don’t

Orsolya Albert
January 20th, 2021


This article is more than 3 years old.

That’s the first step, but soon you will have to self-isolate (scan: PZFUN)

The mutated variants of COVID-19 – whether it’s British, South African or even Brazilian – are clearly at the top of the political agenda right now.

In a bid to curb their spread, a political majority is in favour of fast-tracking a new law that would require anyone entering Denmark to isolate for several days.

The involvement of the Justice Ministry is perhaps telling, as anyone guilty of violating the new rules will face punishment in the form of a hefty fine. 

Really dangerous
“If people come home with the South African mutation and spread it, that can potentially be really dangerous,” the justice minister, Nick Hækkerup, told DR on Sunday.

“If you come home and isolate, we can be sure you are not spreading chains of infection in Denmark.”

Negotiations will take place this week. Although most parties agree it is a necessary restriction, they have different ideas on how to reinforce it.

Different approaches
Venstre and Socialistisk Folkeparti are both calling for a similar system to the one Norway has in place, which requires up to ten days of self-isolation.

DF and Konservative would prefer the isolation system currently recommended for those who have found out that a close contact is infected, arguing the same four-day isolation requirement, along with two negative tests, can be applied to travellers.

Radikale and Enhedslisten plan on hearing the proposal of the authorities before making a final decision or recommendation.


Share

Most popular

Subscribe to our newsletter

Sign up to receive The Daily Post

















Latest Podcast

A survey carried out by Megafon for TV2 has found that 71 percent of parents have handed over children to daycare in spite of them being sick.

Moreover, 21 percent of those surveyed admitted to medicating their kids with paracetamol, such as Panodil, before sending them to school.

The FOLA parents’ organisation is shocked by the findings.

“I think it is absolutely crazy. It simply cannot be that a child goes to school sick and plays with lots of other children. Then we are faced with the fact that they will infect the whole institution,” said FOLA chair Signe Nielsen.

Pill pushers
At the Børnehuset daycare institution in Silkeborg a meeting was called where parents were implored not to bring their sick children to school.

At Børnehuset there are fears that parents prefer to pack their kids off with a pill without informing teachers.

“We occasionally have children who that they have had a pill for breakfast,” said headteacher Susanne Bødker. “You might think that it is a Panodil more than a vitamin pill, if it is a child who has just been sick, for example.”

Parents sick and tired
Parents, when confronted, often cite pressure at work as a reason for not being able to stay at home with their children.

Many declare that they simply cannot take another day off, as they are afraid of being fired.

Allan Randrup Thomsen, a professor of virology at KU, has heavily criticised the parents’ actions, describing the current situation as a “vicious circle”.

“It promotes the spread of viruses, and it adds momentum to a cycle where parents are pressured by high levels of sick-leave. If they then choose to send the children to daycare while they are still recovering, they keep the epidemic going in daycares, and this in turn puts a greater burden on the parents.”