Denmark Turns COVID-19 Restrictions Page: “People Have Changed”

While the French government plans to extend the use of the health pass beyond Nov. 15, Denmark considers itself sufficiently protected against Covid-19 to return to a completely normal life. Way ahead from the start in managing the health crisis, the kingdom lifts the last restrictions on Friday, September 10th.

In Copenhagen, the mask has been just a bad memory for almost a month. When you take the subway, nobody uses it anymore. “We really have the feeling that Covid in Denmark is an old story, explains Cécilia. People moved on. “

In fact, Danes are no longer required to present health passes in bars and restaurants since September 1st; and as of Friday, the “coronapass”, as it has been called in this country, is no longer necessary even in nightclubs. “A relief!”, says Elijah, behind his counter, and who can find a “normal” relationship with customers. “I really liked and supported the idea of ​​this coronapass while it was there, because it was for good reasons., he explains. But it’s great not having to think about it anymore! Customers want to come more and it makes it easier to talk to each other without all this distance between us. “

The mask is not mandatory on the Copenhagen, Denmark metro, September 2021. (AGATHE MAHUET / RADIO FRANCE)

This total return to normality, decided the Minister of Health, because “the epidemic is under control”, he says, which confirms the modeler within the equivalent of our Scientific Council, Camila Hhholten Muller: “At the moment, we only have 25 to 30 people hospitalized for Covid per day: that’s very few! This success we owe above all to a massive screening campaign. Last fall, we were able to test nearly half the population each week.”

Vaccination is now working extremely well here, with more than eight out of ten people fully protected. A rate that rises to over 95% among the elderly and the frail “which is very impressive”, indicates the modeler.

What explains this Danish success, apart from being a good organization for the tests or the vaccine, is the credit given to the authorities. “I have complete confidence in the government”, says Anna. For sociologist Merlin Schaeffer, from the University of Copenhagen “People tell themselves that the government is doing – most of the time – what is in their best interest. And this is decisive, in a time of crisis like this. We are told ‘please respect these instructions’; and the Danes say to themselves ‘ok, this is probably the right thing to do.’ “

A population that says it is prepared, today, to accept new restrictions. The Health Minister does not rule out reinstating the coronapass if the Delta variant turns the tide in the coming weeks.

The coronapass ended in Denmark – Report by Agathe Mahuet

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