Denmark is set to lift all remaining coronavirus restrictions on Friday, making it the first EU country to go completely back to pre-pandemic daily life,
Politico reports.
“The vaccines and the great efforts of all of Denmark's citizens over such a long period are the foundation for why we are going strong,” said Health Minister Magnus Heunicke on Twitter this week. Danish health authorities approved the move in late August, after declaring that the virus is "no longer a critical threat to society" due to high vaccination rates and a low incidence of severe disease and death.
The country's "COVID pass" will no longer be required to enter restaurants, sports centers or nightclubs, and children will no longer automatically be sent home if they come into close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case. Only those infected have to quarantine. People can go back to the office as normal, and schools are open.
The move is the latest in the country's decisions to ease pandemic measures, including the scrapping of the mask requirement for public transit on August 13. It also comes as other Scandinavian countries like Sweden - set to drop its restrictions at the end of September — are taking advantage of the improving epidemiological outlook.
Along with the successful vaccine rollout, experts have pointed to high levels of trust in authorities. Almost three-quarters of adults are fully vaccinated and COVID-19 hospitalization rates are low.
