New coronavirus restrictions in Denmark: Here’s what you need to know

The restriction is one of a number of measures announced at the end of last week by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, as the country attempts to bring escalating Covid-19 infections under control.These are the details to know
Denmark announces new coronavirus restrictions: Here’s what you need to know.From October 29th, Denmark’s face mask requirements – previously only in force on public transport and in restaurants – now apply at all public indoor places.

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced at a briefing on Friday evening a number of new restrictions in response to escalating Covid-19 infections in Denmark.

Denmark is to significantly restrict social activity with new measures aimed at stemming a concerning trend of increasing cases of coronavirus in the Scandinavian country.

The new measures include:

Mandatory facemasks in all indoor public places
A ban on selling alcohol after 10pm (including at supermarkets and convenience stores)
The assembly limit will be reduced to a maximum of 10 people
The timescale for the three measures differs: the facemask requirement will come into effect from October 29th, while the ban on alcohol sales takes effect from Monday. Both of these measures will remain in place until January 2nd 2021, Frederiksen said at Friday’s briefing.

The reduction of the assembly limit to a maximum of 10 people (from the current 50) becomes effective on Monday and will remain in place for an initial four weeks.

All restrictions already in place have also been extended until January 2nd, Frederiksen said. They had been scheduled to expire on October 29th. That means bars, restaurants and cafes will still be required to close at 10pm and facemasks will remain mandatory on all public transport.

The new facemask requirement will mean people in Denmark now face wearing the coverings in supermarkets and stores, libraries and all other indoor public areas. Children under 12 and others with health conditions contraindicating face mask use are exempted under the current Danish rules.

In addition to the restrictions, a new recommendation was also announced on Friday: to restrict social contacts to 10 people outside of your own household.

Frederiksen said she empathised with people in Denmark who are finding it hard to live with the ongoing restrictions necessitated by the pandemic, coining a new term, coronatrist, which can be translated to “corona blues”.

But she said the Covid-19 crisis is not over, stressing that “in recent weeks, Europe has truly been hit by a second wave”.

Without new restrictions, “we risk losing control in Denmark”, she said.

“”I’m asking you — once again — for us to get through this crisis, this time during the autumn,” the PM said with emotion apparent in her voice after announcing the tightened measures.

Denmark registered 859 new cases of coronavirus on Friday, the second consecutive day on which a new record has been set for the number of cases in a 24-hour period.

The figure of 859 is notably higher than Thursday’s total of 760, which itself set a short-lived record as the highest daily number of new cases.

The 859 new infections came from 44,244 tests. That corresponds to a positive test rate of 1.9 percent, continuing an upward trend in the test positivity rate.

The extended rules are to remain in place until January 2nd. Either face masks or visors can be used in the situations where the requirement applies – for simplicity, we will stick to referring to ‘face masks’ here.

Public indoor places can be assumed to include all supermarkets, stores, newsagents, convenience stores, shopping malls, libraries, museums, cinemas, gyms, educational institutes such as universities and colleges, and public health facilities including (but not only) hospitals and doctors’ surgeries.

The pre-existing requirement to wear face masks on public transport and in bars, cafes and restaurants when standing, remains in force.

At universities, the face mask rules will mean that students must wear the protective coverings while moving between different parts of university facilities, such as between classes. They will also have to wear them in canteens, corridors and all common areas.

The mandate will not apply when students are in classes or other teaching environments such as workshops, seminars, clinics or laboratories. Teaching staff who teach more than two classes or groups in the course of a day must wear a face mask.

School children, teachers and daycare staff are not required to wear a face mask while at schools or childcare facilities, but teachers and childcare staff are now permitted to do so if they wish.

At gyms and other sports facilities as well as cultural locations like museums, the face mask requirement applies to “customers, visitors, spectators and staff at the relevant sports facility or cultural institution,” the Ministry of Culture has confirmed in a statement.

Performers or athletes while competing, on stage or similar are not required to wear face masks.

If you go to the gym, you will not be required to wear a face mask while running on the treadmill or lifting weights, or while between machines. But they must be worn when arriving and leaving and in any other areas such as lounge areas.

It will also not be required to wear a face mask while sitting down (for example for spectators or audiences) or if it is not practically possible, such as when swimming or getting changed.

Although a slightly lower number of new infections was reported on Tuesday, Wednesday saw over 1,000 new cases registered in the daily report for the second time this week.

The total of 1,017 positive results came from 63,659 Covid-19 tests – a significantly higher number than Denmark usually tests in a day – giving a test positivity rate of 1.6 percent.

136 people are currently hospitalised with Covid-19 in Denmark. That figure exceeded 500 during the peak of the initial wave of the virus in March and April.

Starting from October 17, at midnight, citizens of o the European countries listed above – Bulgaria, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Poland, San Marino and the Vatican – will need to present a purpose of entry when showing up at Denmark’s port of entry.