Denmark halves distance advice to 1m as lockdown lifts
Ritzau/The Local - [email protected]
Published: 11 May, 2020 CET.
Updated: Mon 11 May 2020 13:47 CET
The Danish Health Authority has halved the physical distance citizens are advised to keep from one another ahead of the reopening of shopping malls, restaurants and cafés across the country.
In new set of guidelines issued on Sunday night, the agency cut the distancing requirement from 2 metres to 1 metre.
"We are here clarifying that in most cases, a minimum of 1 meter is sufficient," the authority said in a press release.
"The most important thing about preventing the spread of infection with Covid-19 is that people with symptoms self-isolate in their own homes or are isolated in hospital," Søren Brostrøm, the authority's Director General, said in the release.
The next most important action, he continued, was that citizens maintain good hygiene practices by coughing into their sleeves, washing their hands frequently, and washing surfaces.
Keeping a physical distance, he said, came only in third place.
The authority said it still recommended that people keep 2 meters distance when involved in group singing, attending lectures, or in other circumstances where there may be an increased risk of droplets.
They said a 2m distance was also recommended when meeting people in high risk groups, such as the elderly.
The new guidelines also removed a ban on buffet dining in restaurants, and emphasised to Danes that hand sanitiser is in most cases no more effective at countering the virus than washing hands with soap and water.
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In new set of guidelines issued on Sunday night, the agency cut the distancing requirement from 2 metres to 1 metre.
"We are here clarifying that in most cases, a minimum of 1 meter is sufficient," the authority said in a press release.
"The most important thing about preventing the spread of infection with Covid-19 is that people with symptoms self-isolate in their own homes or are isolated in hospital," Søren Brostrøm, the authority's Director General, said in the release.
The next most important action, he continued, was that citizens maintain good hygiene practices by coughing into their sleeves, washing their hands frequently, and washing surfaces.
Keeping a physical distance, he said, came only in third place.
The authority said it still recommended that people keep 2 meters distance when involved in group singing, attending lectures, or in other circumstances where there may be an increased risk of droplets.
They said a 2m distance was also recommended when meeting people in high risk groups, such as the elderly.
The new guidelines also removed a ban on buffet dining in restaurants, and emphasised to Danes that hand sanitiser is in most cases no more effective at countering the virus than washing hands with soap and water.
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