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New Danish assembly limit comes into effect: These are the details to know

The Local Denmark
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New Danish assembly limit comes into effect: These are the details to know
A sign during a local assembly ban in Copenhagen. A national 10-person assembly limit applies from October 26th. Photo: Photo: Emil Helms/Ritzau Scanpix

Denmark has reduced the maximum number of people who are allowed to gather in public from 50 to 10.

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The measure, aimed at slowing increasing Covid-19 cases in the Nordic country, was announced amongst other responses by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Friday.

READ ALSO: Denmark announces new coronavirus restrictions: Here’s what you need to know

A number of exceptions and rules apply to the assembly limit, which takes effect for an initial four weeks.

“Normal comings and goings” at places of work are exempted from assembly limits, although the government has previously recommended working from home where possible.

Activities for people under the age of 21, which take place under the auspices of an organisation or association (foreningslivet in Danish), remain exempted from the assembly rules.

That means up to 50 people under 21 can still meet to play team sports such as football or handball with their clubs – but anyone over that age must stick to the 10-person limit.

‘Necessary’ adults such as coaches required to supervise activities for youth teams are allowed to take part in larger gatherings under these exemptions, but parents are not permitted to cheer from the sidelines.

Professional sports remain encompassed by a rule that has enabled a limited number of spectators to watch competitions like Danish Superliga football in recent months. Stadia with “permanent sitting facing the pitch or court” are still allowed to admit a maximum of 500 spectators with social distancing in place. Professional sportspeople are also exempted from the assembly limit.

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The above rule on permanent sitting also allows cinemas and theatres to remain open and admit up to 500 people provided they use permanent sitting facing the screen or stage.

Certain social relief exemptions, including hostels for homeless people, crisis centres and drop-in centres are exempted from the rule, enabling them to continue to operate normally, Minister of Social Affairs and the Interior Astrid Krag has confirmed. Staff may be required to wear face masks in some instances.

Schools, colleges and universities remain open, but any activities that are primarily social in nature should be cancelled, the government has requested.

Gyms and swimming pools remain open for everyone of all ages, provided that social distancing requirements are adhered to, although any group activities, such as Zumba, yoga or swimming lessons, will be restricted to a maximum of 10 people.

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As with sports, people who are part of choirs can be exempted from the assembly limit (allowing a maximum of 50 to meet instead of 10) if they are under 21 years old. The new limit applies to over-21s.

Religious congregations taking place indoors are exempted from assembly limits, but a social distance of four square metres per person is required, and attendance is capped at 500 people.

Cultural attractions like museums and zoos remains open – attendance by unconnected visitors is not treated as ‘assembly’. But groups of visitors may not exceed 10 people.

It should be noted that face masks will be required at all public places, even if exemptions to assembly limits apply, once new rules on face masks come into effect on October 29th.

Sunday saw Denmark register another record number of new cases of Covid-19, with 945 cases from 57,902 tests in a 24-hour period. The number of tests is significantly higher than that regularly seen in recent weeks.

Sources: Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Education, DR.

 

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