Denmark’s parliament on Thursday night unanimously passed an emergency coronavirus law which gives health authorities powers to force testing, treatment and quarantine with the backing of the police.
The far-reaching new law will remain in force until March 2021, when it will expire under a sunset clause.
“I was touched when I saw the whole Parliament standing up and voting for this,” Health Minister Magnus Heunicke told Danish state broadcaster DR after the law passed.
“It is time to put aside party politics and be together to do what it takes to bring Denmark safely through this situation.”
Jens Elo Rytter, law professor at Copenhagen University, said the measures were unlike anything passed in the last 75 years “It is certainly the most extreme since the Second World War,” he told the Jyllands-Posten newspaper. “There have been some powerful encroachments in various terror packages. But this goes further.”
Trine Maria Ilsøe, DR’s court correspondent, said that Danish citizens could face prosecution under the new law if they refused to comply with health authorities’ demands. “It means that you could be sentenced to a punishment if you, for example, refuse to allow yourself to be tested for coronavirus,” she said.
The Ministry of Health will now work with the Ministry of Justice on the details of how the police will work with health officials to enforce their demands.
The far-reaching new law will remain in force until March 2021, when it will expire under a sunset clause.
“I was touched when I saw the whole Parliament standing up and voting for this,” Health Minister Magnus Heunicke told Danish state broadcaster DR after the law passed.
“It is time to put aside party politics and be together to do what it takes to bring Denmark safely through this situation.”
Jens Elo Rytter, law professor at Copenhagen University, said the measures were unlike anything passed in the last 75 years “It is certainly the most extreme since the Second World War,” he told the Jyllands-Posten newspaper. “There have been some powerful encroachments in various terror packages. But this goes further.”
Trine Maria Ilsøe, DR’s court correspondent, said that Danish citizens could face prosecution under the new law if they refused to comply with health authorities’ demands. “It means that you could be sentenced to a punishment if you, for example, refuse to allow yourself to be tested for coronavirus,” she said.
The Ministry of Health will now work with the Ministry of Justice on the details of how the police will work with health officials to enforce their demands.
Den alvorlige situation påvirker også afstemningerne i folketingssalen. Afstemning ved at rejse sig. Afstand mellem alle i salen. Nødvendig lovgivning stemmes igennem med stort flertal. Næste møde inden midnat. #dkpol pic.twitter.com/rJAYNEbHSS
— Torsten Schack (@Torstenschack) March 12, 2020
Source: thelocal.dk
