A truly bold and avant-garde decision was made in Europe: last week, the leading Scandinavian country lifted absolutely all restrictions against coronavirus infection. Thus, Denmark became the first European state to abandon vaccination passports and any restrictions on movement within the country, including for tourists. The move was made by the Danish leadership despite concerns about a fourth wave of covid in Europe.
Danish health authorities announced the decision to lift the restrictions at the end of August after reporting that the coronavirus “no longer poses a critical threat to society” due to high vaccination rates, low morbidity and mortality. Thus, Minister of Health Magnus Choinike said that the country is keeping the epidemic “under control” and the lifting of restrictions is possible due to “record high rates of vaccination.” “The government has promised not to extend the measures longer than necessary, and here we are. But even despite this, that now we are in good condition, we are not getting out of the epidemic, ”the official said. At the same time, on average, the country registers more than 500 new cases of the disease every day.
According to the WHO European office, Denmark is the “champion in vaccine coverage” – just over 74% of the population is fully vaccinated, of which 96% are citizens aged 65 and over. In this regard, local authorities have allowed the removal of the app that tracks movement from smartphones. However, they recalled that quarantine awaits those who tested positive for coronavirus.
Thus, the lifting of the ban on entry to nightlife on vaccination passports and negative molecular tests was the latest in a long line of measures that Denmark has gradually canceled in recent months. Now it is the only country that allowed itself such “antique luxury”. It is clarified that travelers entering Denmark must present either a vaccine passport or a negative PCR result.
Denmark introduced Covid passports in March 2021 as part of a gradual easing of rules. On August 1, authorities canceled sanitary passes to museums and closed events with fewer than 500 people, followed by major events. The mask mode in public transport has been canceled since the middle of last month. On September 4 in Copenhagen, for the first time in Europe, after a long break, a concert for 50,000 people took place. We will remind, earlier Iceland had already tried to remove antikidny measures in June, but returned them again due to the growing number of cases of the disease. What will happen to Denmark – time will tell.
