End of confinement for the unvaccinated in Austria, reopening of bars and restaurants in the Netherlands, end of compulsory testing for vaccinated travelers in the United Kingdom… Driven by the milder forms of Covid-19 induced by Omicron, the t is time in Europe for a lifting of health restrictions. And it is Denmark that goes the furthest.
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The only health measure that will remain in Denmark will be a four-day (non-compulsory) isolation in the event of a positive Covid-19 test, Prime Minister Mette Fredriksen announced on Wednesday evening. There will still be restrictions on the arrival of travelers – depending on their country of origin – i.e. PCR tests and quarantines but these measures will only be maintained for four weeks.
Increase in contamination
All other restrictions will be lifted from February 1, namely, among others, the sanitary pass, the limitation of the number of customers in stores, the wearing of masks and the closing of bars, restaurants and nightclubs from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. morning.
And yet Denmark is experiencing a significant increase in contamination, around 50,000 people per day.
Decline in intensive care patients
But for the Danish epidemiological commission, given the high vaccination coverage of its population, Covid-19 is no longer a “ threat to society », the official classification which allowed to impose restrictions. Omicron has been there and according to the Danish health authorities, the increase in infections no longer leads to the increase in hospitalizations. The number of intensive care patients in Denmark has been halved in three weeks.
The Scandinavian kingdom had already lifted all restrictions on September 10, before reintroducing the health pass in early November and then introducing new restrictions.