Denmark is implementing new COVID-19 restrictions as cases spike with the highly transmissible Omicron variant. As part of the new measures to curb the virus nightclubs have been closed from last Friday, December 10, 2021. Other businesses that sell alcohol are not allowed to sell between midnight and 5:00 AM.
Among other measures to curb the virus spread, for standing guests, oral protection requirements will be introduced at restaurants. Concerts with more than 50 standing guests will be prohibited. Students of primary schools were sent home for an extended Christmas break from Monday, 13 December, 2021. Primary schools are set to open by January 4, 2022.
We try to avoid a [full] shutdown with the restrictions we are introducing now,” said Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, as per Dagens Nyheter.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen
The government is urging Danish workplaces to cancel this year’s Christmas celebration due to rising COVID-19 cases.
These actions were taken by the government since within the first week of December 38,000 Danes tested positive for the coronavirus. The country also hit the highest number of patients per day. So far, 577 cases of the Omicron variant have been reported in the country and according to the authorities, there is now a widespread outbreak of omicron.
The government hopes to contain the situation with the new restrictions and a far reaching vaccination program.
Preventing alcohol harm is an effective solution to curb the pandemic
Reducing alcohol availability during COVID-19 is a recommended solution by the World Health Organization to contain the spread of the coronavirus and to prevent other negative consequences during lockdowns.
The lethal interaction between alcohol and the COVID-19 pandemic was revealed in a groundbreaking report.
- Alcohol increases the health and societal problems arising from the pandemic. For example, alcohol weakens the immune system and makes people more susceptible to infections. And alcohol-centric social contexts have been COVID-19 super spreader events.
- Alcohol increases the burden on healthcare and emergency services which are already stretched due to the COVID-19.
- The alcohol industry exploits the pandemic to change alcohol laws to their private benefit.
