Denmark advises against travel to Spain and postpones part of re-opening
The Danish foreign ministry is again advising against non-essential travel to Spain. An increase in the maximum number of people allowed to gather has been postponed.
Denmark opened its borders for travel to the majority of EU and Schengen countries, along with the United Kingdom, last month after previously closing its borders at the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
But travel to Spain has now been closed again by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which updated its guidelines on Thursday to advise against non-essential travel to the Mediterranean country.
The principality of Andorra is also now advised against for non-essential trips. The new advisories, which are not legally binding, came into effect on Thursday.
One of the criteria for designating a country ‘open’ for travel is that the number of current coronavirus infections must be below 20 per 100,000 inhabitants.
Once a country is open, the critical limit for when travel advisories are tightened again is set at 30 cases of infection per 100,000 residents, measured over the past week. Spain has exceeded that.
In addition to the number of infections, Danish authorities also look at testing and the percentage of tests which are positive. A maximum of five percent of those tested may test positive.
Meanwhile, the planned easing of restrictions on assembly in Denmark has been postponed.
The limit for the maximum number of people allowed to gather was set to increase from 100 to 200 on August 8th, but that will not occur at the current time, the Ministry for Health and the Elderly announced.
The decision was made based on increasing levels of Covid-19 infection in Denmark in recent weeks.
READ ALSO: Danish health expert does not recommend further reopening due to increase in Covid-19 cases
“The epidemic is increasing globally and in several places in Europe, and recently we have seen an increase in the number of Danes who are infected with coronavirus,” health minister Magnus Heunicke said in a statement.
“It is crucial that we maintain the good position Denmark is in, where we have the epidemic under control,” he added.
The eased restrictions would have meant that, for events where the participants are primarily standing, up to 200 people could have attended if these events were held by organisers from specified sectors, including sports and culture.
Some events where people primarily sit down – such as football matches -- are exempt from the existing assembly limits.
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Denmark opened its borders for travel to the majority of EU and Schengen countries, along with the United Kingdom, last month after previously closing its borders at the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
But travel to Spain has now been closed again by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which updated its guidelines on Thursday to advise against non-essential travel to the Mediterranean country.
The principality of Andorra is also now advised against for non-essential trips. The new advisories, which are not legally binding, came into effect on Thursday.
One of the criteria for designating a country ‘open’ for travel is that the number of current coronavirus infections must be below 20 per 100,000 inhabitants.
Once a country is open, the critical limit for when travel advisories are tightened again is set at 30 cases of infection per 100,000 residents, measured over the past week. Spain has exceeded that.
In addition to the number of infections, Danish authorities also look at testing and the percentage of tests which are positive. A maximum of five percent of those tested may test positive.
Meanwhile, the planned easing of restrictions on assembly in Denmark has been postponed.
The limit for the maximum number of people allowed to gather was set to increase from 100 to 200 on August 8th, but that will not occur at the current time, the Ministry for Health and the Elderly announced.
The decision was made based on increasing levels of Covid-19 infection in Denmark in recent weeks.
READ ALSO: Danish health expert does not recommend further reopening due to increase in Covid-19 cases
“The epidemic is increasing globally and in several places in Europe, and recently we have seen an increase in the number of Danes who are infected with coronavirus,” health minister Magnus Heunicke said in a statement.
“It is crucial that we maintain the good position Denmark is in, where we have the epidemic under control,” he added.
The eased restrictions would have meant that, for events where the participants are primarily standing, up to 200 people could have attended if these events were held by organisers from specified sectors, including sports and culture.
Some events where people primarily sit down – such as football matches -- are exempt from the existing assembly limits.
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