“It is crucial that we break the chain of infection now. In the hospitals, the seriousness of each day becomes more evident,” says Mette Frederiksen.
Assemblies of more than 10 people are banned in public places, both indoors and outdoors. The ban applies from Wednesday at 10 p.m.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (S) said this at a press conference on Tuesday evening, at which time she also called for the ban to be complied with in private.
The ban is by far not the only new initiative that has been presented at the press conference.
Covered malls – but not grocery stores and pharmacies – as well as restaurants and cafes will also close from Wednesday at 10 a.m. However, they can deliver food out of the house.
All indoor sports and sports activities as well as hairdressers, masseurs and tattoos and other professions with very close contact with clients must also shut down for a period unless they perform health care.
Discos, nightclubs, sunbeds and hookah cafes must also close.
The rules apply until March 30, and state police chief Thorkild Fogde explains that forced closures and fines can come up if the rules are not followed. The level of fines has not yet been determined.
According to Mette Frederiksen, a united parliament is behind it.
Several hospitalized and many infected
The new measures come after the number of coronavirus admissions has increased significantly in recent days. There are currently 82 inpatients , 18 of whom are in intensive care. The number of infected people is also increasing, and according to the Danish Serum Institute , somewhere between 9,000 and 90,000 Danes are infected right now.
The government expects these figures to rise greatly, and Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warns of the consequences.
It is crucial that we break the chain of infection now. In hospitals, the seriousness of each day becomes more apparent, says Mette Frederiksen.
Employees may see it in a “nightmare”
In recent days, several doctors and nurses have shared reports from their everyday lives about a huge amount of work pressure and strongly urged the Danes to take the authorities’ recommendations very seriously.
It makes an impression on Mette Frederiksen. She addresses, among other things, the young people and says that it is crucial to pause social life for a period of time.
Doctors, nurses, social and health assistants and other staff in the hospitals may soon end up in a nightmare. Inhumanly long guards with crowded wards and lack of hands. We’ve seen it in Italy, and now we have to do everything we can.
Why not a total ban?
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen says on the question why the government does not impose an actual curfew as France has done:
It is our very clear experience that the Danes, over a broad comb, comply with the recommendations of the National Board of Health and show consideration for each other. But that is not enough. That is why we are now taking further steps.
But if the Danes comply with the recommendations, it is not a problem to take your car, bike or walk in the woods. I do not rule out further initiatives. But as long as the Danes back up, then we get far, says Mette Frederiksen.
A major transformation of the health care system
The health board’s director, Søren Brostrøm, said at a press conference on Tuesday evening that a major restructuring of the health care system is underway to clear the coronavirus.
You must not be able to stand in the waiting room of the GP. One must call first. You have to accept that you can’t come to the dentist and get your teeth cleaned, says Søren Brostrøm and continues.
You have to accept that you cannot talk to your doctor at the hospital about chronic illness. This must be done on the telephone and video. If you want to give birth at home, you will be asked to give birth in the hospital. Operations are postponed, says Søren Brostrøm.
