Why did Denmark declare the pandemic no longer a threat in the midst of its biggest wave of COVID-19 infections?

Denmark decided to lift most restrictions against COVID-19, despite the fact that cases of the virus in this European country register record levels.

With this step, it joins other nations of the continent that consider that the virus is no longer a “critical illness for society”, as Danish health minister Magnus Heinicke said in a letter to Parliament.

“Tonight we can find the smile again. We have incredible news, we can remove the most recent restrictions in Denmark”, commented, for her part, the prime minister Mette Frederiksen at a press conference.

“We are ready to step out of the shadow of the coronavirus, saying goodbye to restrictions and hello to the life we ​​had before. The pandemic continues, but we have passed the critical stage”, he added.

Frederiksen, according to various media, followed the advice of the Danish Epidemic Commission. The restrictions will be lifted on February 1, although international travelers will have to be tested for the virus before entering the country.

But in the face of the new reality, nightclubs will be able to open again. Restaurants will also be able to serve alcohol after 10:00 pm and diners will not need to show proof of vaccination. Masks will also not be worn indoors.

Among the other European countries that have taken similar measures are the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.

What reasons prompted the new policy?

Despite the increase in infections, the Danish government made the decision to relax restrictions due to low occupancy in hospitals and the rise in vaccination rates.

In the country, 46,747 new cases have been registered in the last 24 hours, nine times more than a year ago at the peak of the second wave, but there are only 938 people admitted, half a hundred less than then.

Of that number, between 30% and 40% were hospitalized for other reasons and later tested positive for the coronavirus.

Likewise, the total number of patients in intensive care is 40, half that of just a few weeks ago, according to the Efe agency. Minister Frederiksen sees this as a sign that omicron is a less lethal variant.

“It may seem strange and paradoxical that we eliminate the restrictions with the current contagion figures, but we must look at more figures, one of the most important is that of seriously ill patients and that curve has been broken”commented the official.

Frederiksen also alluded to the high vaccination figures as the second decisive factor: 80.6% of the Danes received the full dose and 60% the booster dose.

The Danish authorities expect the high number of infections to continue for a few weeks, although they believe it is disproportionate to maintain the current restrictions.

Denmark, which in the last month and a half registered an increase in deaths, still has one of the lowest mortality rates in Europe, with 62.59 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, three times less than countries such as Spain, Portugal or France.

gradual changes

Although most of the restrictions would be lifted once Parliament approves the prime minister’s proposal, some recommendations to protect risk groups would remain in place until spring.

In the homes of the elderly, the use of masks will be required, which joins the request for tests for travelers from abroad.

The government said it will then enter a second phase, in which it will monitor the behavior of the virus and prepare for winter. Frederiksen indicated that for this date it is “very possible” that the population should be vaccinated again.