Closes cinemas, theaters and universities
– We are not talking about a write-down of society as we did in March 2020. Our goal is to keep as many parts of society open as possible.
This is what Prime Minister Mette Fredriksen says during Friday’s press conference.
From Thursday to Friday, 11,194 new coronary cases were registered in Denmark, according to the Statens Serum Institut (SSI). It is a new record.
– The omicron variant now accounts for every fifth case of infection, says Frederiksen.
Shuts down cultural life
The Prime Minister says the government is following up on the recommendation from the country’s Epidemic Commission, and proposes to close cinemas, theaters, museums, cultural centers, fairs, and function rooms for conferences and lectures.
The government also wants distance requirements in shops. Requirements for face masks are also recommended for employees with customer contact. At the same time, Fredriksen asks the population to only meet family and closest acquaintances at Christmas.
In addition, there is a bar stop at restaurants from 10 pm, and the sale of alcohol is prohibited between 10 pm and 5 am at night.
It is up to the Danish National Assembly, the Folketing, to approve and adopt the measures. The meeting started at 14.30 on Friday. On Friday afternoon, it became clear in the Folketing that the measures were approved.
Five areas for action against the pandemic
Schools were closed earlier in December to prevent the spread of infection. The plan is for the Danish schools to reopen on 5 January, with regular teaching.
Frederiksen says they have defined five focus areas in the handling:
- More people need to become immune through the vaccination.
- Get fewer sick and hospitalized through the rollout of medicines and vaccines
- Break the chains of infection
- Protect the elderly and vulnerable groups
- Increase hospital capacity
– Nightlife and party life drive the infection
– The increase in infection we have set has been driven by the delta variant, but now it is more and more omikron that dominates. The infection will continue upwards, unless we do something, said director of SSI, Henrik Ullum, on Thursday.
The director believes the omicron variant is so infected atom you are not immune, you will be infected with coronavirus during the winter. It is particularly contagious in the capital Copenhagen, and among the younger population which stands out.
– It is nightlife and party life that have helped drive up the infection, Ullum said.
The number of corona patients admitted to the hospital is also increasing, but not in the last 24 hours. A total of 517 people are hospitalized in Denmark, 61 of them in intensive care.