Denmark bans groups of more than ten to fight coronavirus
The Local Denmark - [email protected]
Published: 17 Mar, 2020 CET.
Updated: Tue 17 Mar 2020 19:28 CET
Denmark has banned all gatherings involving more than ten people and forcing restaurants, hairdressers and sports facilities to close, in the latest of its tough social distancing measures.
"This is not going to be easy," Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen admitted as she announced the tough new measures on Tuesday evening, but she said she judged them necessary.
"It is crucial that we break the chain of infection now. At the country's hospitals, the seriousness of the situation is becoming clearer every passing day.
"Nurses, doctors and social and health assistants are saying to the Danes: Stay home now so that the infection does not spread'. Now is the time that we in Denmark must do everything we can."
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The Danish broadcaster TV2 reported that the following institutions would be required to shut on Wednesday morning and to remain closed until at least March 30.
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Restaurants cafés, bars, bistros, discos, nightclubs, sheesha clubs
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Shopping malls (with the exception of any supermarkets inside)
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Indoor sports facilities
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Hairdressers, masseuses and tattooists
Restaurants and cafés will be permitted to continue selling take-away food and drinks.
Health minister Magnus Heunicke told the press conference that the health services were now preparing for a surge in coronavirus patients, with 954 respirators now in place in intensive care wards.
"It is serious now in the Danish health system," Søren Brostrøm, Director General of the Danish Health Authority, said according to Denmark's public broadcaster DR. "More people are arriving at the intensive care wards and they are extremely seriously ill."
Thorkild Fogde, Denmark's police chief, said that from tomorrow additional police officers would be out patrolling the streets to enforce the new regulations.
"Police will not enter private homes, and you will not be facing a huge mass of fines for breaking the ban on assemblies of over 10 people, but we will insist the new rules are complied with," he said. "We will be ready to censor restaurants and cafés."
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"This is not going to be easy," Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen admitted as she announced the tough new measures on Tuesday evening, but she said she judged them necessary.
"It is crucial that we break the chain of infection now. At the country's hospitals, the seriousness of the situation is becoming clearer every passing day.
"Nurses, doctors and social and health assistants are saying to the Danes: Stay home now so that the infection does not spread'. Now is the time that we in Denmark must do everything we can."
READ ALSO:
The Danish broadcaster TV2 reported that the following institutions would be required to shut on Wednesday morning and to remain closed until at least March 30.
- Restaurants cafés, bars, bistros, discos, nightclubs, sheesha clubs
- Shopping malls (with the exception of any supermarkets inside)
- Indoor sports facilities
- Hairdressers, masseuses and tattooists
Restaurants and cafés will be permitted to continue selling take-away food and drinks.
Health minister Magnus Heunicke told the press conference that the health services were now preparing for a surge in coronavirus patients, with 954 respirators now in place in intensive care wards.
"It is serious now in the Danish health system," Søren Brostrøm, Director General of the Danish Health Authority, said according to Denmark's public broadcaster DR. "More people are arriving at the intensive care wards and they are extremely seriously ill."
Thorkild Fogde, Denmark's police chief, said that from tomorrow additional police officers would be out patrolling the streets to enforce the new regulations.
"Police will not enter private homes, and you will not be facing a huge mass of fines for breaking the ban on assemblies of over 10 people, but we will insist the new rules are complied with," he said. "We will be ready to censor restaurants and cafés."
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