COVID-19 in english

Smitte|stop (“infection stop”) is an app that can help us all stop the spread of COVID-19 in Denmark.

The app allows you to notify people whom you have been physically close to in restaurants, public transport, or elsewhere, but don’t know personally, about the risk of infection.

The higher the amount of people using the app, the more chains of infection we are able to stop.

The smitte|stop app will:

• Notify you, if you have been in close contact with someone who tests positive for coronavirus. You will then be informed with recommendations from authorities, so the chain of infection can be stopped.
• Allow you to notify people whom you have been close to, if you get tested positive for coronavirus. This will work anonymously; the notified person will not be informed about who you are or where or when they were close to you.

About smitte|stop

• Downloading and using the smitte|stop app is optionable, not mandatory.
• The app is secure and will protect your data.
• Data about who you have been in close contact with is saved on your phone only – authorities will not have access to the information.
• The app is a digital-based addition to other initiatives launched by the authorities to help us protect each other as society reopens.
• The development of the app is a cooperation between the Ministry of Health, the Danish Patient Safety Authority, the Danish Health Authority, the Agency for Digitisation, the State Serum Institute, and Netcompany.
• The smitte|stop app is available for download in your regular app store.

It is possible to travel to a large number of countries in the EU/Schengen and UK, where the State Serum Institute has estimated a low infection rate and where Danes can enter without significant restrictions. Countries in the EU/Schengen and UK that are categorized as ‘quarantine countries’ by the State Serum Institute, due to their infection rate, are still orange (meaning all non-essential travel is advised against) in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ travel guide. The travel guide also classifies as orange countries in the EU/Schengen and UK that have significant entry restrictions for Danish travelers.

Read more about the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ travel guidelines for EU and Schengen countries here.

In addition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is easing the travel advice for selected countries outside the EU/Schengen and UK where the EU has estimated an infection rate below or close to the EU average. Here, too, it is required that the country does not have any entry restrictions or quarantine requirements for Danish travelers and that the general security situation in the country is acceptable.

Read more about the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’s travel guidelines for countries outside the EU and Schengen here.

Regarding countries classified as yellow, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs encourages you to be extra careful, keep yourself updated on the travel guidelines in the country, and to follow the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ special COVID-19 travel advice. It is also recommended that you download the app Rejseklar and register yourself on the Danskerlisten. That way you will be notified about any changes to the travel guide concerning the country you are residing in/travelling to. 

Updated information about each country can be found on the websites of the Danish embassies. This can be information about travel/entry restrictions or other initiatives by local authorities to curb the spread of infection.

Denmark does not have embassies in all countries. Some embassies therefore cover several countries. Find the right embassy that is relevant for you by entering the name of the country here.

Starting Monday the 8^th of June, 2020, multiple parts of Denmark will be reopening. This is relevant for the following:

• Arcades, indoor swimming pools, playlands, and waterparks
• Indoor sports and workout facilities, including gyms
• Outdoor amusement parks – with restrictions on certain rides
• Summer activities for children and young people
• Weddings and large parties – with the possibility of gatherings of up to 500 people under certain conditions, if held at a restaurant that is in charge of the food and the premises. Renting a village hall/community facility, or the like, and gathering 500 people on your own is, however, not permitted
• Conferences and AGMs/general meetings – with the possibility of gathering up to 500 participants under certain conditions
• The Danish Superliga (football) – with the possibility of gathering up to 500 participants under certain conditions

The ban on gatherings will be lifted from 10 people to 50 people starting June 8^th.

The government would like for the ban on gatherings to change to 100 people from July 8^th and to 200 people from August 8^th. This, however, is simply the goal and has not yet been decided on.

Regional differences

Given the regional differences in the infection pressure, the reopening of the country will differ from region to region. This means that public employees west of the Great Belt Bridge now have the option of meeting in physically at their workplaces. Public workplaces in Region Zealand and the Capital Region are expected to reopen on Monday the 15^thof June.

Summary of the press conference in the Prime Minister’s Office on Friday the 29th of May 2020

All foreign travel is advised against until the 31st of August, except for trips to Norway, Iceland, and Germany.

Starting June 15th, Denmark will reopen its borders to visitors from Norway, Iceland, and Germany. Restrictions will apply to visitors from these countries. A minimum of 6 nights in the country is required in order to enter – overnight stays are not allowed in Copenhagen. Sample screening tests for COVID-19 will be conducted at the borders.

The borders will remain closed to visitors from Sweden for now. This is based on the neighbouring country’s distinct way of dealing with the Corona situation.

A reopening of the borders to the rest of the Schengen countries will be reviewed again after the summer vacation.

The way we behave will be pivotal to how the reopening of society will go. This, of course, is also relevant if we decide to travel abroad over the summer and the way we choose to behave while travelling.

Travelling to other countries means you risk getting infected and bringing the infection home. It is therefore recommended that you avoid travelling to the big cities. It is also advised that you inform yourself on the local restrictions and policies as a traveler.

The health authorities advise strongly that you stay home for 14 days following a trip abroad, even if this was a short trip to Sweden.

A referral from your doctor is no longer required in order to book a coronavirus test. Starting this week, all adult citizens of Denmark will be able to book their own test through the site www.coronaprover.dk. You will need to login with your Nem-ID.

This is according to a press release by the Ministry of Health.

Booking a test is possible regardless of whether you are showing any symptoms. When your booking has been registered, the test itself will take place in one of the white tents that have been constructed across the country for the purpose.

The Minister of Health emphasizes, however, that a ‘negative’ coronavirus test result does not exempt you from following the general guidelines on distancing and hygiene. The test is not 100% accurate and it is not guaranteed of detecting the virus in an infected person.

Read more through this link: https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/nu-kan-alle-danskere-blive-coronatestet

Summary of the press conference in the Ministry of the State, May 12th 2020

Lately, Denmark has greatly increased the testing for COVID-19 and is currently one of the countries worldwide that test the most people based on numbers of inhabitants. However, we must do even better. If the infection of the virus breaks out again, we must detect it in time, hence the need for effective contact tracing.

It is necessary to isolate the sick people in order to break the chain of infection without closing down the society once again. Moreover, it is necessary to ensure that the elderly and particular vulnerable people can return to more freedom and a normal everyday life, enabling them to see children and grandchildren.

The new strategy on effective contact tracing includes: When a person is infected, the government will start tracing who the infected has been in contact with. These people will then be tested and isolated quickly, avoiding the infection to spread further. The government creates a hotline that will help the infected to trace their contacts and ensure that the chain of infection will be stopped.

Additionally, the government will alongside with the municipalities, provide isolation facilities for the people without means to isolate themselves in their own homes.

Some private people have started sewing or knitting face masks. However, home knitted and -sewed face masks provides false safety, The Danish Safety Technology Authority announces.

The false sense of safety arise when you think that you are protected and therefore do not pay attention to hand hygiene and keeping distance. Homemade face masks do not necessarily protect against infections such as COVID-19 since virus particles might pass through.

Protective equipment such as face masks must live up to a lot of technical requirements to protect against illness. As consumer you can keep an eye on whether the face mask has a visible “CE-tag” on it, which is the tag used for personal protective equipment.

Selling homemade protective equipment which do not live up to the requirements is illegal.

The Danish Safety Technology Authority advocate that you must follow the National Health Service’s recommendations on distance and hygiene as primary prevention against COVID-19.

See more at:

https://www.sik.dk/erhverv/produkter/personlige-vaernemidler/vejledninger-forbindelse-corona-covid-19/hjemmestrikkede-masker-giver-formentlig-ikke-beskyttelse#

and at: https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/styrelse-hjemmestrikkede-og-hjemmesyede-masker-giver-falsk-beskyttelse

Summary of the press conference on May 7th with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen

The Danish people have complied with the government’s guidelines on keeping distance, hygiene etc. Therefore, it is possible to continue to gradually reopen Denmark. The Nationel Health Department’s guidelines on physical distance and good hygiene still apply, and it is crucial to the success of the reopening that the guidelines are still complied with.

Besides the known guidelines, the reopening rests upon an offensive testing strategy. There is now a strong focus on testing even in case of mild symptoms, tracing contact and isolation of the infected. Furthermore, representative testing of the population is now being completed, where a selection of the population is convened to testing regardless of having symptoms of infection or not.

Phase 2 of the reopening includes amongst other things:

· Full reopening of retail, comprising of malls ets. (from May 11)

· Restaurants, cafés etc. are allowed to waiter in compliance with specific guidelines on physical distance etc. (from May 18)

· 6-10th grades are allowed to attend school again (from May 18)

· Several private companies are allowed to have their employees attend work physically

· Professional sports can be exercised without an audience

· Libraries open for loaning out books (from May 18)

· Outdoor sports and unions can be resumed as long as it is done safely

· The Church of Denmark and religious communities are allowed to open in a safe manner (from May 18)

There has not yet been made a decision on when the temporary border control will cease. The government will announce this no later than June 1st 2020.

If the reopening leads to a break out of the corona epidemic, the reopening will slow down. The National Health Department must be able to follow the pace and we must take care of each other the following months.

Read further on https://www.regeringen.dk/nyheder/2020/pressemoede-om-genaabning-af-danmark-fase-2/

After having operated with a very broad definition of groups at risk regarding COVID-19, the National Health Services has now specified which groups that are at in risk of serious illness when infected with coronavirus. 

There are now 7 groups at risk: 

1.People of high age – considering normal state of health 

The experience with the virus so far shows that people above age 70, and particularly people above age 80, are at the highest risk of serious illness. People at the age of 65 and younger are particularly vulnerable if they have one or several chronic illnesses. 

Elderly above 65 are no longer automatically in a particular group at risk, if they are healthy and well and physically active. This further means that healthy grandparents are allowed to visit – and hug – their healthy grandchildren again. 

2.People in nursing homes

The people in nursing homes are often both elderly, has got chronic illnesses as well as lowered level of function and activity. This all leads to added risk. 

3.Overweight people 

Overweight is often connected to chronic illnesses such as diabetes or coronary heart diseases. Particularly people with a BMI above 35, or BMI above 30 combined with a chronic illness, are at risk of a serious course when infected by COVID-19. 

4.People with certain chronic illnesses

Not all chronic illnesses means that you are in a specific group at risk, specifically if they are well treated. You can find the list of illnesses that lead to particular risk of serious illness if infected with COVID-19, here:

https://www.sst.dk/da/Udgivelser/2020/Personer-med-oeget-risiko-ved-COVID-19

5.Certain children with chronic illnesses 

Certain children with chronic illness might have an increased risk in regards to COVID-19. These are children who, in advanced – independent of the pandemic – have specific precautions regarding school or child care. These children and their families will receive individual counselling in their usual treatment facility. 

6.People without permanent place of residence 

People without permanent place of residence often have poor possibilities of keeping good hygiene or keeping physical distance to others. This entails increased risk of infection. Additionally, many people without permanent housing also suffer from chronic illnesses. This combination makes them particularly vulnerable in terms of a serious course of illness. 

7.Pregnant 

This is still from a principal of being careful since pregnant women in general are more receptive towards infections. It is not proven that neither the expecting or the unborn child are at risk of a more seriousness course of illness than the rest of the population. However, it appears that pregnant women admitted due to COVID-19 during their third trimester, give birth prematurely by c-section. This is followed by the usual risks for mother and child. 

https://www.sst.dk/da/corona/Saerlige-risikogrupper

People in serious risk of serious illness by COVID-19 infection can now contact their doctor and receive a free vaccination against pneumococci. 

This vaccination is offered to particularly vulnerable groups at risk to decrease the risk of a serious infection while they are also at risk of COVID-19 infection. 

The vaccine which is offered to specific groups, is not at vaccine against COVID-19. It is a vaccine against specific bacteria, pneumococcal bacteria, which in worst case can lead to serious illnesses such as blood poisoning and pneumonia. 

Some people are at higher risk than others, either due to their age or because they have additional illness. Therefore, the first time around, the vaccine is offered to people in nursing homes, people above 65 years with chronic illnesses and people under 65 years with particular high risk of becoming ill. 

To find out if you are in the group at risk and therefore eligible to get the free vaccine, read here:
https://www.sst.dk/da/Viden/Vaccination/

You can read further about the vaccinations here: 
https://www.sst.dk/da

We are at the first phase of reopening our society. This is only because we have gained control over the epidemic. The reopening entails more people being in contact with each other. Therefore, the reopening will result in additional tests, while we must follow the guidelines we know, which includes keeping distance, good hand hygiene, coughing and sneezing in the sleeve, limiting physical contact, staying home when ill and paying attention to places with a lot of people. 

A lot of work has been dedication on expanded test capacity, and now it is here. This means that EVERYONE with symptoms must be tested. More concretely, it means that if you have one or more of the following symptoms: dry cough, fever or breathing problems, you can get tested for coronavirus. You must call your doctor or doctor on call outside of the normal opening hours. Then you will get a test as fast as possible. This is the most effective way to stop the spread of coronavirus. 

There have been concerns regarding too few people contacting their doctors, however in this moment people have started contacting them again. Although it is still not at the same level as prior to coronavirus. Therefore, we still encourage the population to contact their doctor if they are feeling unwell or have signs of illness, regardless if it is corona related or not. 

Generally on testing: 

You are tested by putting a cotton bud through the mouth or nose. If you are hospitalized, and this test cannot be undertaken, you will be tested with a tube down the down the nose. The testing depends on several factors, and it might become necessary to be tested multiple times. 

There is now something to be joyful about regarding the positive development on coronavirus in Denmark. The numbers are  still going the right way and even better than expected. Therefore, the reopening can be at bit more extensive than expected. There will be negotiations with the other parties on which areas will be reopened, such as areas of work. 

The amount of hospitalizations and hospitalized on the ICU with coronavirus has dropped. It has proven successful to keep distance which we therefore must continue doing. It has been brutal for everyone that Denmark has been shut down, however, many other countries are in an even more difficult situation than Denmark. 

Status is that that there, in this moment, are 380 people hospitalized with coronavirus, 93 on the ICU and 299 deaths. In Denmark, the coronavirus is under control at the moment and the Health Services can keep up. 

• Preparations are being done to open up parts of the Health Services, enabling doctors to accept patients and hospitals can initiate planned operations. Patients with the greatest need are prioritized. Everyone should remember to address their own doctor when ill or symptoms of being ill as well as needing to be examined. 
• All municipalities are preparing the reopening of day-care centers and schools on the recommendation of the health authorities. It will become a different everyday for children since they need to keep a longer distance amongst them, spend more time outside and play in smaller groups. 
• 67 municipalities are opening the first day-care tomorrow, wednesday April 15th and 48 municipalities are opening the first schools for 0-5th classes tomorrow. All other day-care institutions and schools will open up and till April 20th. 

We must continue keeping a distance to each other and take care of the elderly and the most vulnerable in society. We shall all do ours to ensure that the infection does not spread too much and too fast. 

The positive development is stabile and the numbers are going in the right way: 503 are hospitalized, 139 in intensive care and unfortunately 187 deaths. 

The Prime Minister points out that the virus has a three-four weeks delay from infection until it shows, and that it is concerning how some people are starting to become too easy-going by for example planning Easter Holiday lunches. 

On this background, the Prime Minister presents the plan for the 1st phase of reopening Denmark. All points of the plan are preconditioned by everyone taking responsibility and continues to comply to the government’s recommendations by: washing hands, keeping distance and not meeting up with too many people. 

1st phase of the reopening contains the following: 

• The Health Services will open for other activities than corona. 
• Nurseries, daycare, care facilities and 0-5th grade classes reopen. 

• In these institutions, additional new precautions will be implemented. A reopening will happen only when these are established.
• Private employees should start working again provided that it is responsible in regards to the overall health. 

The Prime Minister underscores that these points are clearly conditioned by a continuous stabile development – and that we all have a responsibility for this by complying to the guidelines. 

Furthermore, other initiatives will be extended by four weeks until May 10t:

• The closing of the borders  
• Ban against gatherings of more than 10 people. 
• The tightened guidelines 
• The closing of higher educations, libraries, cinemas, malls and cafés.
• Small liberal occupations such as hairdressers, tattoo artists and others are extended. 

The Prime Minister encourages everyone to show patience and understanding. Nothing is as before – and the everyday life will not return to our society for many months to come. 

Additionally, she informs of further circumstances: 

• 6-10th class students must continues to attend school from home, however all exams will be cancelled and replaced by the yearly grades. 
• Students who finalize a youth education (upper secondary), will attend a different and limited exam.
• Festivals, markets, and other big events over the course of the summer, cannot take place: the ban against larger gatherings is retained up to and including August. 
• The government and the parties of the Parliament will examine the possibility of improving the aid packages. 

Moreover, the Prime Minister repeats her appeal of showing citizenship, more specifically directed to the banks and larger rental companies, who should show solidarity – but also to the citizens, who are encouraged to support their local businesses and small companies. 

In regards to the actual Health Services, the Prime Minister announces that more tests will be undertaken in order to clarify how many  people has had corona, just as everything is being done to make sure the health care workers have the equipment they need. 

Finally, the Prime Minister states that the most important thing is that we all contribute: it is up to every single one of us to do one’s duty. And this is the precondition for our society to slowly reopen.

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen states that Denmark’s initiatives are working. She points out the positive development that has occured on the basis of the aforementioned initiatives. And announces that Denmark can slowly and gradually begin to reopen after the Easter Holidays. However, this will require that the positive development continues – and therefore, it should NOT be interpreted as an incentive to neglect the guidelines previously provided by the Health Services. It is particularly now that we must be persistent, keep our distance and ensure that we comply with the government’s guidelines and restrictions.. This is the prerequisite for the possibility of being able to gradually reopen the Danish society after the Easter holidays. If these restrictions and guidelines are ignored or neglected, even more aggressive measures will become necessary. The epidemic has not peaked yet; we can still expect a rise of infected- and hospitalized people as well as more deaths. And while it may seem paradoxical to reopen Denmark when people are dying, the concern is the spread of the virus must be, and is, under control. The Ministry of State will in the upcoming week further discuss the reopening of Denmark with the chairmen of the parties in the Parliament – and present a plan for this reopening by the end of the week. The Ministry of State further directs a message especially to the elder and vulnerable, whom she informs must expect to keep adapting their lives to the risk of infection. It is tough, however paradoxical, the weakest must be the strongest in this time. She states that there is hope. As it is for the time being, we have succeeded flattening the curve – the situation is continuingly serious, and exhaustive testing is necessary. Even though the spread of the virus is currently under control, we still have an epidemic.

What you need to know about corona:

 We are right now in the middle of a serious epidemic. Therefore, it is critical to minimize the risk of spreading the infection.  The National Board of Health will therefore ask everyone to follow this advice.

If you are well:

 – Avoid unnecessary contact and ask others to pay attention.

 – If you have been close to someone who shows signs of coronavirus infection, pay extra attention to your own symptoms.

 – Take care of your loved ones and if they are particularly vulnerable, do so at a distance.

If you have signs of illness:

 – Stay home until two days after you are free of symptoms.

 – Keep away from others in your home and stay as much as possible in your bed, under your covers.

 – Pay extra attention topersonal hygiene and cleaning.

 – Get others to help you with your groceries and stay in touch over the phone.

 – If your are experiencing that your symptoms are getting worse, such as high fever or breathing problems, call your doctor.

 Protect yourself to protect others.

Press conference in the The Prime Minister department 23 March 2020 3 PM.

The Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen extends the Corona initiative and all other initiatives regarding the virus until the 13 April 2020.

254 infected are admitted to hospital and 55 are in intensive and 24 citizens have lost their life to the Coronavirus.

The initiatives decided by the Parliament will continue on. The main goal is to prevent a large number of citizens become seriously ill simultaneously. Therefore, the Parliament extends the lockdown till the 13. April 2020. 

The Prime Minister underlines the importance of following the rules and keeping a certain distance to each other. Especially during the Easter holidays. The Prime Minister requests that all citizens should not travel, even if it is intended to travel to other parts of Denmark.

Families must make use of the emergency care taking of their children. The Prime Minister are sure of that resources are strong. There is also room at the shelters for the homeless. They are also given the possibility to isolate themselves, if they become infected.

The Danish National Health Service is currently working on to improve the capacity of the treatments.  South Korea has been contacted regarding the offer on new test kits for COVID-19 which The Parliament at first neglected, but will now take the offer with open arms.

To finish, the minister of health underlines that any offer to help will be welcomed. If you are interested to help as a citizen, please consider to visit the website Coronasmitte.dk. On the website, in the section “Danmark hjælper Danmark” it is possible to seek help and get an estimation of offered help.

On the 19th of March, The Danish National Health Service has presented new guidelines regarding dealing with COVID-19 ill pregnant and in labour women, their partner and the newborn child/children. From now on, when pregnant women arrive at the hospital, they mustl be tested for coronavirus immediately.

If the test is positive, the personnel of nurses and doctors must take special precaution and equip themselves with masks and other necessary equipment. The pregnant one must also do so.

If any suspicion appears regarding the pregnant women being infected with COVID-19, she will be subject to a principle of cautiousness and will be treated as infected until result of the test comes back.

Also:

An infected partner can not be present at the childbirth. This is also valid when any suspicion about being infected appears.

An infected partner shall also keep away form the child until this person is symptom free in a period of 48 hours.

All hospitals urges to keep it at a minimum regarding relatives being present at the childbirth, meaning: only the partner of the woman in labour is allowed to be present, to reduce the potential of transmitting COVID-19.

In spite of the mother being infected with COVID-19, she will not be separated from the newborn child unless the mother is in a critical state that requires immediate medical attention.

If the mother is tested positive, but does not require immediate treatment, it is recommended to go back home in isolation as soon as possible. The mother will receive proper guidelines regarding the newborn child’s health etc.

Infected mothers shall breastfeed, but are recommended to wash their breasts with water and proper neutral soap and apply a mask, before breastfeeding. For this purpose, also regularly to wash and sanitize their hands as often as possible. 

Important scans will still be in effect e.g. nuchal folds etc.

One must expect and be prepared to possible cancellation of birth preparations. Midwife appointments will be by telephone.

The most necessary midwife visits and scans will be held as usual. As to be expected, the visits will only include the midwife and the mother to prevent potential infectiousness. 

Hospitals will conduct childbirth as usual. One shall not be in doubt, it is clearly stated and underlined that all women are welcome to come in and give birth.

Statens Serum Institut call upon all citizens to register at Influmeter, regarding the fight against the Coronavirus.

The Influmeter builds and depends upon your voluntary effort as a citizen, regardless if you have sought out medical treatment or already have had medical treatment, to report back weekly if you had any symptoms. This way, you will contribute to the knowledge about the spread of the Coronavirus in the country.

Everyone who lives in Denmark can participate in the Influmeter. Children, adults, elderly people, healthy and sick as well. You can register yourself and other people in the same household, in spite of the fact that you or others in same household have been sick, or just recently became ill.

All participants contributes with important and useful knowledge, regardless of your condition. Even if you are ill, or have been ill, or maybe about to become ill. Please do not hesitate to register. 

The department of infection epidemiology at Statens Serum Institut, monitors and prevents contagious illness’ in Denmark and is behind the development of Influmeter, which is a part of the collective illness monitoring related to influenza, colds, and COVID-19 symptoms.

To learn more, please visit Influmeter at: www.influmeter.dk

Participants: Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Minister of Health Magnus Heunicke, Director of the Health Council Søren Brostrøm, one from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and National Police Chief Torkild Fogde.

The Prime Minister starts by emphasizing the gravity of the situation by telling that, 82 are now hospitalized, 18 of which are in intensive care, the latter almost doubling in one day.  It is therefore important that we break the chain of infection.  New initiatives are therefore presented with effect from tomorrow 18^th of March 10 pm until the 30^th of March 2020.

• Gatherings of more than 10 people, either indoors or outdoors, for public events are not permitted.  We advise you to adhere to this advice for private meetings also. 
• Shops have more stringent requirements: there must be sufficient space between people, customers must keep a good distance from one another, and must be able to wash their hands – this applies both inside and outside.
• All indoor sports and sports facilities must close, e.g.  Gyms, tanning salons, hairdressers, masseurs, tattoos: generally businesses with close contact.  This does not apply in the health care sector.
• Nightclubs, hookah (shisha) cafes, bars, etc. must close.
• All major malls, arcades and covered places must close – except grocery stores in centers.
• All restaurants, cafes, etc. have to close – premises may still offer take away options. 
• All Danes who come home from abroad must check themselves off The Danish List if they are registered on it and go on voluntary quarantine for 14 days.

In addition, Heunicke, Brorstrøm and Fogde all emphasized the seriousness of the situation, and that it is now that we must act if we are to reduce the consequences.  Nobody can give up their responsibility to follow the Ministry of Health’s recommendations, the Prime Minister stressed, especially with reference to the young people.

As a matter of principle, the Prime Minister suggested, that if you are in doubt a situation, for example, going to dinner at a friend’s house, and feel that your and other people’s health may be effected, just don’t go.  

The Prime Minister, again, thanked everyone who is part of the emergency and health services in the community.

In addition, the Prime Minister announced new relief packages, both for employees, self-employed persons and companies, to be negotiated as early as tomorrow between the parties of Parliament.

The police will be present more than usual to advise and guide the citizens.

The Foreign Ministry estimates that some Danes are stranded abroad; but encourages them to find a safe place to stay and Denmark will try to bring them home as soon as possible.

Participants: Prime Minister – Mette Frederiksen, Foreign Minister – Jeppe Kofoed, Minister of Justice – Nick Hekkerup and National Police Chief – Torkild Fogde.

First, the government gave a status update on the corona virus in Denmark:

802 are infected, 23 are hospitalized, 2 in critical condition.

Next, Mette Frederiksen presented the latest regulations against the spread of coronavirus in Denmark.

The first regulation, is that hospitals must now stop all unnecessary treatments.  That is, for example, operations or routine non-life-sustaining examinations, will be postponed.

The second, is that the Foreign Ministry now advises against all unnecessary travel to all countries and recommends all Danes who are abroad to come home; that is, do not travel out of Denmark if it can be avoided at all, and if you are traveling, get home as soon as possible.

The third – and so far most serious regulation – is that from tomorrow, Saturday 14th of April at 12pm all borders in and out of Denmark will close until the 14th of April 2020. It will not be possible for foreigners to enter Denmark, neither by plane, ships, trains, buses or cars unless they have a recognised purpose; this means, for example, that they live or work in Denmark, must visit acutely ill family members or have the right of access with children in Denmark.

The borders will be enforced by the police with the help of the defense.

The government points out that it is still possible to transport food and groceries and it will continue to be able to cross the border without hindrance and that there will thus be no shortage of food. In addition, Danish citizens can, of course, always travel into Denmark.