COPENHAGEN / OSLO (Dagbladet): The Omikron variant is so contagious that it will be difficult to avoid to become infected with the virus during the winter.

Henrik Ullum, director of the Statens Serum Institut (SSI), tells Dagbladet.

It is far more contagious than the delta variant, and it also infects the vaccinated. Vaccinated people seem to get a mild or asymptomatic infection, and that is fine, but mild and asymptomatic infections can also spread to others. At some point, it will be difficult to get around someone like that does not is infected. Then it will be difficult to avoid getting infected yourself, says Ullum.

Asks for action

SSI is Denmark’s answer to the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH). On Thursday evening, SSI and other Danish health authorities participated in a press conference, where they described the corona situation in Denmark as both «worrying» and «serious».

In the last 24 hours, Denmark has registered 9999 new cases of infection. Of these, 2962 were confirmed omicron cases. This is a sharp increase since the first omicron case was discovered.

– Unless we do something, the infection will only continue to rise. The number of omikron cases doubles every other day, Ullum said at the press conference where Dagbladet was present.

To Dagbladet, Ullum was clear that it is not possible to stop the omicron infection. The aim of the health authorities is therefore to curb the infection so that the capacity is not blown.

– if the wave becomes too large and should come, the load will be enormous. This applies to all our societal functions. We need this to happen more slowly.

– How would you assess the measures introduced by the Norwegian authorities?

– Our job is to advise the Danish government, but in that work we have of course looked at the Norwegian strategy. I think each country should be allowed to choose the strategy they think is best. To compare the Danish strategy with the Norwegian strategy, I will not go into.

– Very important

The most important measure Denmark is now investing in, like Norway, is to vaccinate as many people as possible with a third dose of vaccine before the numbers of omicron-infected ones skyrocket.

Some studies suggest that a booster dose may increase protection against infection, but a third dose generally reduces the risk of serious illness.

Preliminary data from South Africa show that there is less risk of becoming seriously ill from the omicron variant, but early in a wave one can underestimate the severity. Nor can we compare Danish and Norwegian society with South African. South Africa has a younger population and has had big waves through the pandemic, and has a higher degree of immunity in the population. We have to make our own experiences and must first of all plan for a significant burden on health care.

– Norway is unfortunate

– If it becomes difficult to avoid becoming infected with omicron during the winter, how important is it to get a third dose of vaccine?

– It is very important. This is also a very important time for those who are considering whether or not to get vaccinated. Now is the time to make that choice, for a moment you can get infected. My best advice to the part of the population that until now has been hesitant and waiting to be vaccinated is to make that choice now. If it is not the virus, Ullum answers.

Alerts action

Denmark is at the very top of the world in corona testing and sequencing of corona samples. This is the only way to prove the omikron variant for the time being.

Therefore, Denmark also has a much better basis for monitoring the omicron spread.

To other countries with poor ability to sequence and monitor the omicron spread, Ullum has a clear message:

Intimidated by Norway

– Unfortunately, analyzing and sequencing does not solve the problem. In those countries that do not have an overview of how much omicron infection they have, one should consider it likely that it is significant, and deal with it accordingly.

A few hours before the press conference on Thursday evening, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stated that there was again a need to introduce strict measures in Denmark.

On Friday morning, Frederiksen’s government will meet the other parties in the Folketing to anchor the measures. It is expected that the new initiatives will be announced later on Friday.