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More corona restrictions on the way for Denmark, but nothing drastic
Ben Hamilton
November 25th, 2021
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This article is more than 3 years old.
Government’s Epidemic Committee meeting at 17:00 today to approve measures mostly relating to corona passes and facemasks
Winning the battle in the capital (photo: Pixabay)
For the time being, they are only recommendations: the return of facemasks, more requirements to show corona passes, particularly if you work in the public sector, shorter lifespans for passes etc
The Health Ministry addressed the nation at 16:00 yesterday to say the Epidemic Commission (experts) has recommended further measures to contain escalating corona cases, but nothing has been decided yet.
However, it looks likely all of them will be passed and implemented before the end of November, once the Epidemic Committee (politicians) gives them its approval.
Its 21 members – a reflection of the make-up of Parliament, so minor parties don’t have representation – meet at 17:00 today.
Protecting healthcare, eldercare and social care circles
The recommendations are more or less predictable: just think back a month and a half before all the restrictions were lifted.
Facemasks on all public transport will be required, including in taxis, as well as in shopping centres, shops, arcades and takeaway establishments. They will also be needed in healthcare, eldercare and social care circles.
Corona passes will be needed to access all education circles, as well as language schools. They will be needed to visit face-to-face services such as hairdressers. And they will also be needed by government and municipal employees, as well as by visitors to eldercare and social care circles.
The indoor capacity for when a corona pass is necessary is now 100, and outdoors it is 1,000 – previously the limits were 200 and 2,000. And the temporary passes will only last for 48 hours (antigen) and 72 hours (PCR).
Opposed by a minority of parties
Konservative, Radikale and SF have already indicated to DR they will back all the changes, with only Dansk Folkeparti and Liberal Alliance slightly reluctant. But together they only account for three of the 21 members.
DF spokesperson Liselott Blixt suggested instead to make more funding available for hospitals and to encourage home testing.
With 435 people in hospital, and 49 in intensive care, the healthcare sector is clearly struggling, not least from outbreaks within its walls.
Between November 8 and 18, there was an outbreak at Odense University Hospital in which 50 people were infected – one of 19 such incidents across the country in the space of a week, according to Berlingske.
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