Denmark will on Tuesday turns into the primary European Union nation to elevate all of its Covid restrictions regardless of document numbers of instances, counting on its excessive vaccination fee to deal with the milder Omicron variant.
After a primary try at lifting all its restrictions between September and November, the Scandinavian nation is as soon as once more ditching its facemasks, Covid passes and restricted opening hours for bars and eating places, AFP experiences.
“I’m so blissful that that is all going to be over tomorrow. It’s good for all times within the metropolis, for nightlife, simply to have the ability to be out longer”, 17-year-old scholar Thea Skovgaard informed AFP the day earlier than the lifting.
Nightclubs reopen on Tuesday, when limits on the variety of folks allowed at indoor gatherings additionally come to an finish.
Just a few restrictions stay in place on the nation’s borders, for unvaccinated travellers arriving from non-Schengen nations.
The easing comes as Denmark registers round 40,000-50,000 new Covid instances a day, or nearly one% of the nation’s 5.8 million inhabitants.
“We’ve got an especially excessive protection of adults vaccinated with three doses,” epidemiologist Lone Simonsen of the College of Roskilde informed AFP.
Greater than 60% of Danes have acquired a 3rd dose – one month forward of well being authorities’ schedule – in comparison with an EU common of just below 45%.
Together with those that have not too long ago had Covid, well being authorities estimate that 80% of the inhabitants are protected in opposition to extreme types of the illness.
“With Omicron not being a extreme illness for the vaccinated, we consider it’s affordable to elevate restrictions”, Simonsen stated.
The broad unfold of the Omicron variant can also be anticipated to result in a “extra strong and long-lasting immunity”, serving to the nation fend off future waves, she stated.
Two years after the outbreak of Covid-19, the Danish technique enjoys broad help at dwelling.
In a ballot printed Monday by day by day Politiken, 64% of Danes surveyed stated that they had religion within the authorities’s Covid coverage.
