COVID digest: Denmark lifts almost all restrictions

On Tuesday, Denmark lifted nearly all the restrictions authorities had imposed to contain the spread of COVID-19, despite a high incidence rate in the country. 

Danes will no longer be required to wear face masks or present COVID-19 health passes indicating proof of vaccination, recovery or a recent negative test result.

Large events will once again be permitted, and nightclubs can pack the dance floor.

When Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced the easing of restrictions on February 1, she said, "We are ready to step out of the shadow of the coronavirus. We say 'goodbye' to restrictions and 'welcome' to the life we knew before."

COVID-19 is no longer classified as "socially critical" in Denmark which permitted the government to impose restrictions. Polls suggest that the move is supported widely by the Danish public.

Last September, Denmark attempted a similar loosening of restrictions, but the government was forced to reimpose restrictions gradually as new infection numbers rose.

In the last week, Denmark has counted between 33,000 and 47,000 new cases daily with the surge brought on by the omicron variant. But critically, hospital cases and deaths have been stable, while patient numbers in intensive care units have been falling.

The country's high vaccination rate has been credited for the absence of an overwhelming number of hospitalized patients with new infection numbers as high as they are. More than 60% of people in Denmark have received three doses of the vaccine, whereas the EU average is at 45%.

Only visitors to Denmark will still be required to present proof of vaccination. Hospitals and nursing homes are being advised to keep certain restrictions, like face masks and the checking of vaccine passes.

Europe

The government in Norway also said it will remove most COVID restrictions, despite a spike in cases due to omicron. Hospital admissions have not increased amid the rise in cases, as the country has a high vaccination rate.

Norwegians will no longer have to quarantine if they come into contact with an infected person. Remote working will no longer be compulsory, and incoming travelers will no longer be required to get tested prior to arrival.

"We have finally reached the point where we can lift lots of the health measures we had to live with this winter," Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said. "We are going to have to live with a high level of infections — we can live with a high level of infections."

In Germany, health officials at the Robert Koch Institute reported 162,613 new infections in the last 24 hours and 188 deaths. The seven-day incidence hit a new record, at 1,206.2 cases per 100,000 people per week.

However, the death and hospitalization rates remain stable even as the caseload continues to rise.

On March 16, medical staff in German hospitals and nursing homes will be required to get a COVID jab. The German Federal Employment Agency said 12,000 workers from the nursing sector in December and January are currently on the hunt for new jobs ahead of this critical date.

In Portugal, Prime Minister Antonio Costa tested positive for COVID-19, several days after his Socialist Party landed a major victory in the country's parliamentary elections. The 60-year-old said he would self-isolate for seven days following the positive result.

Americas

Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer said it has asked US regulators to approve extra-low doses of its vaccine for children under 5-years-old. The vaccine was jointly produced with German firm BioNTech.

Children under five are the only demographic in the US to still not be receiving vaccines. The age group has seen a spike in hospitalizations due to the omicron variant. If approved, the young children could be getting their jabs as soon as March.

Asia

In China, Olympics organizers reported a total of 24 more new cases of COVID-19 being detected within what they are calling a "closed loop" bubble of Olympics event personnel and athletes.

Huang Chun, deputy director general of China's Olympics Pandemic Prevention and Control Office said the new case numbers were within the "expected controllable range."

"As more people are entering China the imported COVID-19 cases are increasing," Huang said. The 2022 Winter Olympics start on February 4 and run until February 20.

Oceania

In New Zealand, a pregnant journalist stranded in Afghanistan has been granted permission to return after the government reversed its decision.

Officials had insisted Charlotte Bellis needed to reapply for a spot at a quarantine hotel to enter the country.  Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson said the government had changed tack and Bellis had been offered a voucher for one of the only 800 rooms available each month.

In a statement, Bellis said, "I will be returning to my home country New Zealand at the beginning of March to give birth to our baby girl." She added, "We are so excited to return home and be surrounded by family and friends at such a special time."

Meanwhile, the New Zealand Open, a men's golf tournament, has been cancelled, organizers announced on Tuesday.

Due to border restrictions, the tournament previously scheduled for late March and early April, could not go forward, organizers said.

ar/msh (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters)