generalspeaking

Opening Up Denmark

"Of course, we recommend that people who are at increased risk remain aware and still look after themselves."
"But we also recommend that you try to find a small group of people you can meet."
"It is neither good nor necessary to isolate yourself in the long term. We have seen a tendency for some people to shield themselves almost a bit too much. Perhaps so much that they have become lonely and sad through sitting at home by themselves."
Camilla Rathcke, co-author, Government of Denmark coronavirus advisory

Hairdressers are among small businesses allowed to reopen in Denmark   Reuters

As one of the first European countries to institute lockdown in response to the threat of the global pandemic, Denmark has also been the first country to begin easing lockdown restrictions, outside of Asia. The first in Europe to reopen schools and nurseries on April 15, retaining some measure of social distancing for children up to age 12. Small businesses opened up once again, five days afterward.

But for the present it remains a 'wait-and-see' atmosphere to try to judge whether any other restrictions might be safely lifted, perhaps around the 10th of May, accordign to Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. Around that time, Denmark's government may consider further easing its lockdown to include reopening of shopping centres, cafes and restaurants, and more senior schools for children over age 12.

The government in Copenhagen a week ago proclaimed itself -- the spread of COVID-19, not having accelerated since the loosening of restrictions -- prepared to consider new freedoms for the population, given the "R rate", demonstrating the average number of infections passed on by one person with virus transmission increased but slightly in the past two weeks, remaining below 1. Elevated somewhat from its previous 0.6 rate under lockdown, to 0.9.

Now, after several months of severe restrictions where grandparents and grandchildren were unable to see or touch one another, a green light has been given and they may once again hug and kiss, thanks to the decision by the country's Health Authority under the issuance of new national guidelines covering people most at risk of contracting the coronavirus. "But avoid handshakes, hugs and kisses on the cheek with anyone apart from those closest to you."

The intention of the guidelines was to give an improved balance to the risk of infection from COVID with its long-term dangers to mental and physical health brought on by ongoing isolation, a primary consideration in all countries where similar lockdowns have taken place, now facing the gradual re-opening of their societies and economies, given the grim economic conditions that have ensued globally.

Where Denmark recorded 484 deaths from 9,670 confirmed cases of COVID-19, its neighbour Sweden, which had decided not to institute a lockdown, but to rely on its population to sensibly adopt social distancing on their own while going about normal life, with nothing closed but for schools for children under 16, Sweden's numbers of COVID cases and deaths have been far in excess of Denmark's with 22,721 cases and 2,769 deaths resulting.

Rasmus Degnbol/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images