Denmark brings COVID curbs back after just two months
Denmark will re-introduce a health pass because of a sharp rise in COVID-19 infections, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Monday, less than two months after scrapping controls.
The Epidemic Commission has recommended the government classify the coronavirus as a "socially threatening disease" and re-impose the pass, Frederiksen told journalists.
"The government will follow this recommendation."
Frederiksen acknowledged that the return of the pass would make life more difficult for those who were not vaccinated, but added: "That's how I think it should be."
In Denmark, with a population of 5.8 million, 85.9 percent of people over the age of 12 have been fully vaccinated.
But at the end of last week, the authorities warned about the risk of hospitals being overwhelmed because of COVID-19, flu and other infectious diseases.
"The health authorities were expecting more people to be infected (by COVID) and hospitalised, but the things have gone faster than expected," Frederiksen added.
The number of new coronavirus cases was higher than 2,000 again Monday, for the fifth day running. Medical staff are treating 26 people in intensive care.
The health pass will be re-introduced in bars, restaurants and night clubs and will be obligatory for those aged 15 and above.
"You can live with the corona-pass," said Frederiksen.
"It gives you peace of mind when you go to the cinema or to a concert," she added.
Denmark was a pioneer of the health pass last spring, when the number of new cases was four times lower than it is now.
The health pass was scrapped on September 10 when the number of new cases was four times lower than it is now.
So far in Denmark 2,745 people have died of the coronavirus.
© 2021 AFP
