The number of confirmed coronavirus cases registered in Denmark has risen by close to a third, with 78 new patients diagnosed overnight.
The Danish Patient Safety Authority (Styrelsen for Patientsikkerhed) announced on Wednesday that there were now 440 confirmed coronavirus cases in the country, an increase of the 262 confirmed at 17.00pm on Tuesday.
This followed an earlier rise from 156 cases on Tuesday morning.
The dramatic new figures came as Aarhus municipality announced that a member of staff at one of its nursing homes had tested positive for the virus, with six of the home’s vulnerable elderly people a showing signs of infection.
At the same time schools and kindergartens across Denmark on Wednesday started to announce that they would close their door after pupils, staff or their relatives tested positive.
Aarhus municipality said that it had taken immediate action to protect residents at the Hørgården home.
“As soon as we became aware of this, we contacted the emergency hotline and put in place several measures to protect our residents and employees,” said Vibeke Dahmen, deputy manager for the municipality’s northern district, said in a press release on Tuesday evening.
“It was an employee on the night shift, who had been at work for several nights in which they may have infected residents. For that reason, all residents will now be confined to their own lodgings.”
“All relatives have been contacted immediately and urged not to visit the residents due to suspected coronavirus, and this also applies to all other appointments the residents have, such as with hairdressers, podiatrists etc.”
