Advertisement

Denmark breaks record for number of new Covid-19 cases

The Local Denmark
The Local Denmark - [email protected]
Denmark breaks record for number of new Covid-19 cases
Photo: Tim Kildeborg Jensen/Ritzau Scanpix

A total of 760 people have tested positive for coronavirus in Denmark in the last day, the highest-ever figure registered in the country, according to the latest daily update published on Thursday.

Advertisement

The numbers, reported by national agency the State Serum Institute (SSI), state 760 new positive tests in the last day from 43,018 tests.

That corresponds to a positive test rate of 1.8 percent, according to The Local’s calculations, a notable increase on the 1.4 percent and 1.5 percent figures for positive testing reported during the last week.

The measure has been described as an important metric in assessing the current level of virus spread.

“When the percentage of positive tests can be observed to rise as it is now over several weeks, that is not a sign we are heading towards a good place in the epidemic,” Thea Kølsen Fischer, a professor in viral epidemics and infections at the University of Copenhagen and head of research at Nordsjællands Hospital, told news wire Ritzau earlier this week.

By exceeding 700 cases in a day, Denmark has broken its record for the number of new coronavirus infections reported in a 24-hour period. Wednesday saw 630 new cases of the virus in Denmark, the second-highest ever daily total. The previous record of 678 was set on September 25th.

Advertisement

A total of 124 people are now hospitalised with coronavirus in Denmark according to SSI, an increase of 2 since yesterday. 17 are in ICU care – 1 more than yesterday – and 12 of the 17 are receiving ventilator treatment, and increase of three from the previous update.

Hospitalisation figures are still far lower than during the first peak of the virus in the spring, when over 500 people were admitted to hospital for an extended period.

Four new deaths with Covid-19 were registered on Thursday, bringing Denmark’s death toll since the beginning of the pandemic to 694.

Health minister Magnus Heunicke has already warned that the country will see new restrictions if Covid-19 infections do not slow this week.

“The next two to three days will be decisive. I will not rule out any tightened restrictions or rules at all. We are following closely and authorities have increased alert levels,” Heunicke said earlier on Thursday.

READ ALSO: 'Increasingly concerned' Denmark signals new coronavirus restrictions

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

Anonymous 2020/10/25 11:28
Demographic please!

See Also