Today in Denmark: A round-up of the latest news on Wednesday
Find out what's going on in Denmark today with The Local's short round-up of the news in less than five minutes.
Ban on flights from UK extended
Denmark’s ban on incoming flights to from the UK has been extended until midnight on Christmas Eve, the transport ministry has confirmed.
All passenger flights from the United Kingdom to Denmark were temporarily suspended two days ago due to the discovery of a faster-spreading variant of Covid-19 in southeastern England.
We’ll have a separate report on the extension on our website this morning.
Covid-19 infections curve ‘broken’ last week
Denmark is to enter a full national lockdown on Christmas Day, but some restrictions have already been in effect for a while. And there are signs that they are working, according to the national infectious disease agency, State Serum Institute (SSI).
“Since December 16th, test positivity of both PCR and antigen testing has shown that the restrictions are working,” SSI’s director Henrik Ullum wrote on Twitter.
We’ll have a report on the status of the virus in Denmark, including Ullum’s assessment of the restrictions, later today.
Busiest travel day of Christmas season… or is it?
December 23rd is normally the busiest day of the festive period on Danish public transport, as people make their way home for Christmas. This year, of course, is not like other years, and many passengers have cancelled DSB train tickets, according to the rail operator.
Less than half of passenger numbers are expected today compared to 2019, DR reports.
Swedish border closure impacts Bornholmers
Denmark has currently closed its borders to arrivals from the UK, meaning UK-based Danes are unable to return home for Christmas, as are Danish-based Brits who might have been visiting the UK (a trip made more difficult anyway due to the UK’s quarantine rules).
Sweden has also closed its borders to the UK as well as to Denmark, citing concerns over an influx of Danish Christmas shoppers, given high numbers of coronavirus infections in Copenhagen.
The Danish Baltic Sea island of Bornholm, where islanders are typically reliant on travel through Sweden to get to the rest of Denmark, is particularly affected by the Swedish ban, and the Danish government is hoping Swedish authorities will change rules to allow Bornholmers to transit through Sweden.
READ ALSO: EU says blanket UK travel ban should end to allow people to return home
Last day of open shops this year
The incoming lockdown means that today is the last day in 2020 that shops will be open, apart from supermarkets, pharmacies and other stores which sell daily essentials.
The restrictions come into full effect on December 25th, but Christmas celebrations mean that stores will also be closed tomorrow.
Christmas is here
With the difficulties and concerns the coronavirus has presented all of us this year, not least during December, it feels easy to miss the fact that the time to celebrate Christmas is now upon us.
Our daily briefing will be a little more sporadic between now and the new year, but you can rely on us to report Danish rule changes, coronavirus news and any other updates that will affect our readers as and when they happen during the holiday period.
I’d like to wish all of our readers a safe and happy Christmas, wherever you are and regardless of how current circumstances have impacted the way you will be celebrating.
If you, like me, are celebrating Christmas in Denmark for the first time because you are unable to travel home, I hope you get the chance to enjoy Danish Christmas traditions.
This article, which we published last year, provides a glimpse of how much they mean to Danes.
Danish vocabulary
-
Jul – Christmas
-
Julemanden – Santa Claus, Father Christmas
-
Gaver – presents
-
Engel – angel
-
Stjerne – star
-
Juletræ – Christmas tree
-
Pynt – Decorations
-
Julefreden – Christmas peace
-
Glædelig jul – Merry Christmas
Comments
See Also
Ban on flights from UK extended
Denmark’s ban on incoming flights to from the UK has been extended until midnight on Christmas Eve, the transport ministry has confirmed.
All passenger flights from the United Kingdom to Denmark were temporarily suspended two days ago due to the discovery of a faster-spreading variant of Covid-19 in southeastern England.
We’ll have a separate report on the extension on our website this morning.
Covid-19 infections curve ‘broken’ last week
Denmark is to enter a full national lockdown on Christmas Day, but some restrictions have already been in effect for a while. And there are signs that they are working, according to the national infectious disease agency, State Serum Institute (SSI).
“Since December 16th, test positivity of both PCR and antigen testing has shown that the restrictions are working,” SSI’s director Henrik Ullum wrote on Twitter.
We’ll have a report on the status of the virus in Denmark, including Ullum’s assessment of the restrictions, later today.
Busiest travel day of Christmas season… or is it?
December 23rd is normally the busiest day of the festive period on Danish public transport, as people make their way home for Christmas. This year, of course, is not like other years, and many passengers have cancelled DSB train tickets, according to the rail operator.
Less than half of passenger numbers are expected today compared to 2019, DR reports.
Swedish border closure impacts Bornholmers
Denmark has currently closed its borders to arrivals from the UK, meaning UK-based Danes are unable to return home for Christmas, as are Danish-based Brits who might have been visiting the UK (a trip made more difficult anyway due to the UK’s quarantine rules).
Sweden has also closed its borders to the UK as well as to Denmark, citing concerns over an influx of Danish Christmas shoppers, given high numbers of coronavirus infections in Copenhagen.
The Danish Baltic Sea island of Bornholm, where islanders are typically reliant on travel through Sweden to get to the rest of Denmark, is particularly affected by the Swedish ban, and the Danish government is hoping Swedish authorities will change rules to allow Bornholmers to transit through Sweden.
READ ALSO: EU says blanket UK travel ban should end to allow people to return home
Last day of open shops this year
The incoming lockdown means that today is the last day in 2020 that shops will be open, apart from supermarkets, pharmacies and other stores which sell daily essentials.
The restrictions come into full effect on December 25th, but Christmas celebrations mean that stores will also be closed tomorrow.
Christmas is here
With the difficulties and concerns the coronavirus has presented all of us this year, not least during December, it feels easy to miss the fact that the time to celebrate Christmas is now upon us.
Our daily briefing will be a little more sporadic between now and the new year, but you can rely on us to report Danish rule changes, coronavirus news and any other updates that will affect our readers as and when they happen during the holiday period.
I’d like to wish all of our readers a safe and happy Christmas, wherever you are and regardless of how current circumstances have impacted the way you will be celebrating.
If you, like me, are celebrating Christmas in Denmark for the first time because you are unable to travel home, I hope you get the chance to enjoy Danish Christmas traditions.
This article, which we published last year, provides a glimpse of how much they mean to Danes.
Danish vocabulary
- Jul – Christmas
- Julemanden – Santa Claus, Father Christmas
- Gaver – presents
- Engel – angel
- Stjerne – star
- Juletræ – Christmas tree
- Pynt – Decorations
- Julefreden – Christmas peace
- Glædelig jul – Merry Christmas
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 here to leave a comment.