They announced the end of the pandemic. What is happening in Denmark after the lifting of covid restrictions?

On February 1, the Danish government lifted all restrictions imposed in connection with the spread of the coronavirus. The decision raised a lot of controversy around the world as Denmark was at the peak of the wave caused by the Omikron variant at that time. What is the situation there today after more than two weeks of freedom and freedom from covid restrictions?

1. There are currently no COVID-19 restrictions in Denmark. The government only recommends that you self-isolate for four days if you suspect coronavirus infection, and wear a face mask in hospitals and nursing homes.
2. This decision raises a lot of controversy, because there are still many new cases of COVID-19 in Denmark, over 40. daily
3. The number of hospitalizations and deaths due to SARS-CoV-2 infection also slightly increased
4. However, the Danes have two strong arguments for those who criticize their strategy: high level of vaccinations of citizens and compliance with sanitary recommendations and rules
5. Respond before it’s too late. Get to know your Health Index!
6. You can find more about the coronavirus on the TvoiLokony home page

Coronavirus in Denmark. Restrictive strategy in retreat

Life in Denmark has been going on almost as it was before the COVID-16 pandemic for 19 days. Shops, restaurants, bars and discos are freely available and open as long as they used to be. Entering them, you do not need to wear a face mask or even show a vaccination certificate. There are no occupancy limits on public transport, nor is it necessary to keep a greater distance than usual. Danes are not even legally obliged to quarantine.

One rule remained, but not even in the form of an order, but a recommendation: in hospitals and nursing homes it is recommended to wear a mask; this is to reduce the risk of infecting people from risk groups. People who experience symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection should also stay at home for at least four days.

1. Also check: What must happen to lift the restrictions in Poland? Dr. Afelt about the most important thing

The announcement of COVID-19 as a disease that is no longer “socially critical”, as the Danish government put it, has raised emotions for two reasons.

First, Until now, Denmark has been rather on the side of limiting the spread of the coronavirus in the form of restrictions. As one of the first countries in March 2020, following the news of the disturbing Wuhan virus, it imposed restrictions on travelers from abroad. The first case of SARS-CoV-2 infection was found there on February 24 this year in a journalist who returned from Lombardy, Italy, the first death – in an 81-year-old woman who contracted COVID-19 in the hospital – on March 13.

On the same day, the Danish government recommended that all citizens return to the country. A day later, the borders were closed. For a month (until April 14), only drivers transporting goods and people who lived in the country permanently and stayed abroad were crossing them. A moment later, meetings with more than 10 people were forbidden, and all shops, institutions and service points that were not necessary for the functioning of the state and citizens were closed. Lockdown has started.

The fate of the Danish strategy to fight the coronavirus is similar to that of many countries, including Poland. As the tide of infection subsided, most restrictions were lifted. When there was an uptrend – they were restored.

The first “enough” the Danes said at the end of last summer. The coronavirus was believed to be on a retreat, and it is high time to return to pre-pandemic normalcy. The rulers wanted all restrictions lifted, and it would probably have happened had it not been for Omikron. Its arrival in November 2021 was like a bucket of cold water to most strategists who thought the pandemic was over. Also in Denmark, where most of the lifted restrictions returned in late autumn.

No one was surprised. This Scandinavian country quickly came to the top of the list of countries where the new variant of the coronavirus has “made its home” at an alarmingly fast pace. To date, it has been detected in over 77 thousand. samples. Omikron is responsible for 98,9 percent. cases of COVID-19 in Denmark.

1. See also: Omikron and… what next? Here are four possible scenarios for the further course of the pandemic (or life after it)

The rest of the text below the video.

COVID-19 in Denmark. The current situation is not very enthusiastic

The second reason why the decision to lift the covid restrictions in Denmark has aroused controversy is the statistics of new cases. On the day on which the restrictions expired, on February 1, it was informed about 45 thousand. 366 COVID-19 cases. A day later, there were over 55 of them. “It is possible that Danish epidemiologists are forecasting a downward trend,” it said. Did these declines really take place?

No, but also in the Danish statistics it is difficult to find significant increases. For over two weeks, the number of new cases has remained at a similar level. In the first week of February, an average of 41-42 people were reported. coronavirus infections daily. For three days (February 5-7) their number dropped below 40. (at least on February 7 – 34 thousand 849 cases), but later the statistics soared again (on February 8 the number of cases was over 49 thousand), maintaining the average level of 45 thousand. Declines are recorded only on post-weekend days, as in Poland, but even then there are quite a lot of infections – around 30.

1. Also read: The number of infections in the world is falling, but the WHO warns: COVID is not over yet

It is worth adding that Denmark is a country with a population of approximately 6 million, not 38 million. Last week, there were 1 thousand people per 50,5 million inhabitants. infected, in Poland it is 5,6 thousand.

More can be found in the statistics of hospitalization and deaths. The former show an increase. On February 1, the seven-day average was 975, a week later – already 1188, and yesterday – 1388. The good news is that you don’t see such an increase in the occupancy of beds in intensive care units – it’s still an average of 30 places.

When it comes to covid deaths, it is certainly a fact that with such a large wave of infections there are still few of them, but also here a slight increase is visible. At the beginning of the month, there were an average of 19-20 of them, the highest on February 5, when 35 victims of the coronavirus were reported. In the following week, the death curve slightly changed – there were already more than 20 a day (the most was recorded on February 14 – 41). Currently, the average of the last seven days is 30 deaths, more than two weeks agobut – as experts emphasize – this is not a trend that should be very worrying. The analysis of the death records of these patients shows that the coronavirus was not always the direct cause of death.

“We estimated that about a third of the COVID-19-related deaths currently reported are not due to the coronavirus, although they tested positive,” said Tyra Grove Krause, an epidemiologist advising the Danish government.

The Danes are definitely in the upper hand here

In such an epidemic situation, why has Denmark nevertheless decided to “announce” the end of the COVID-19 pandemic? The reason is in another graph. It illustrates the degree of isolation of society, which, compared to Europe, is at least impressive, not to say exemplary. The basic course of vaccination against COVID-19 is behind as much as 81,5 percent. people living in Denmark (one dose was taken by 83,2%), and 61,2% has already adopted the booster. Danes are not afraid of the coronavirus, because they are eager to use protection against the disease and even more so – by the severe course of the infection.

There is one more point worth mentioning. Danes show great social responsibility and trust their government by following the recommendations. And these are the same: if you are sick, don’t put others at risk; if you experience symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection, stay home; if you have to leave it and you have symptoms of any infection – put on a mask, disinfect your hands, keep social distance. Most importantly, if you have not yet vaccinated or received a booster dose, get it as soon as possible.

1. What will happen if Poles still do not get vaccinated? Dr. Afelt: We hurt ourselves at our own request

Since the beginning of the pandemic, 2 million 288 thousand people have been identified in Denmark. 627 cases of coronavirus infection, and 19 have died due to COVID-4 139 people.

The editorial board recommends:

1. The epidemic in Poland is finally giving up? The charts speak for themselves [IHME FORECAST]
2. Experts: COVID-19 will become endemic. What does this mean for us? [WE EXPLAIN]
3. Director of NIZP – PZH: at least 80 percent Poles have immunity to the coronavirus
4. Two Omikron sub-variants in Poland. How can they affect the fate of the epidemic?