Today in Denmark: A roundup of the news on Thursday
An agreement on a change to the pay limit scheme, Covid infection rates, and the latest on monkeypox are among the top headlines in Denmark this Thursday.
Parliament lowers salary required for pay limit scheme
Yesterday evening, the Danish parliament agreed on a significant change to the pay limit scheme, which grants residence permits to foreign workers with job offers in Denmark above a yearly salary threshold.
As of December 1st, salaries at or above 375,000 kroner will qualify for the scheme. (Based on today's exchange rates, that's the equivalent of $52,662, €50,394 and £43,355.)
It's a 16 percent decrease from the current pay limit of 448,000, and the lowered threshold will exist on a trial basis for the next three years.
The decision comes after months of political wrangling over the terms of the reduction. Supporters of the reform say the change is necessary to help alleviate soaring demand for labour in Denmark.
Look out for a full report on this story on our website this morning.
READ ALSO: How can you get a work permit in Denmark if you are not an EU national?
Serious illness stays low as Covid-19 case counts triple
Since June 1st, positive PCR tests have nearly tripled in Denmark — and while hospital admissions for Covid patients have increased slightly, there hasn't been a dramatic increase in serious illness from the virus, according to a press release from the National Board of Health.
Health officials have kept a close eye on hospital admissions in light of BA.5., the new Omicron sub-variant that now accounts for the majority of cases in Denmark. Their analysis and studies in other countries suggest BA.5 does not cause more serious illness on a population level than previous variants.
"We expect to look forward to a relatively calm summer, but we naturally keep an eye on whether there are changes in the infection situation," Søren Brostrøm, director of the National Board of Health, told newswire Ritzau.
Authorities earlier this week suggested the summer wave of infections is already waning.
What's the status of monkeypox in Denmark?
Two more cases of monkeypox were confirmed yesterday by the Ministry of Health, bringing the national tally to 18 since May 23rd.
Officials have identified and vaccinated 22 close contacts to the known cases, the Ministry added.
Since monkeypox can only be transmitted by touch when the characteristic rash with white blisters is already present, the risk to the population remains very low, scientists say.
Thulesen Dahl leaves Danish People's Party
Kristian Thulesen Dahl, former chairman and co-founder of the Danish People's Party, has finally resigned after weeks of deliberation. His departure is the eleventh from the party in the past six months, leaving only five members in parliament.
Thulesen Dahl says he will consider Inger Støjberg's offer to join the Denmark Democrats, a new party currently gathering voter declarations to qualify for seats in parliament.
READ ALSO: Danish People's Party decimated by new high-profile departures
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Parliament lowers salary required for pay limit scheme
Yesterday evening, the Danish parliament agreed on a significant change to the pay limit scheme, which grants residence permits to foreign workers with job offers in Denmark above a yearly salary threshold.
As of December 1st, salaries at or above 375,000 kroner will qualify for the scheme. (Based on today's exchange rates, that's the equivalent of $52,662, €50,394 and £43,355.)
It's a 16 percent decrease from the current pay limit of 448,000, and the lowered threshold will exist on a trial basis for the next three years.
The decision comes after months of political wrangling over the terms of the reduction. Supporters of the reform say the change is necessary to help alleviate soaring demand for labour in Denmark.
Look out for a full report on this story on our website this morning.
READ ALSO: How can you get a work permit in Denmark if you are not an EU national?
Serious illness stays low as Covid-19 case counts triple
Since June 1st, positive PCR tests have nearly tripled in Denmark — and while hospital admissions for Covid patients have increased slightly, there hasn't been a dramatic increase in serious illness from the virus, according to a press release from the National Board of Health.
Health officials have kept a close eye on hospital admissions in light of BA.5., the new Omicron sub-variant that now accounts for the majority of cases in Denmark. Their analysis and studies in other countries suggest BA.5 does not cause more serious illness on a population level than previous variants.
"We expect to look forward to a relatively calm summer, but we naturally keep an eye on whether there are changes in the infection situation," Søren Brostrøm, director of the National Board of Health, told newswire Ritzau.
Authorities earlier this week suggested the summer wave of infections is already waning.
What's the status of monkeypox in Denmark?
Two more cases of monkeypox were confirmed yesterday by the Ministry of Health, bringing the national tally to 18 since May 23rd.
Officials have identified and vaccinated 22 close contacts to the known cases, the Ministry added.
Since monkeypox can only be transmitted by touch when the characteristic rash with white blisters is already present, the risk to the population remains very low, scientists say.
Thulesen Dahl leaves Danish People's Party
Kristian Thulesen Dahl, former chairman and co-founder of the Danish People's Party, has finally resigned after weeks of deliberation. His departure is the eleventh from the party in the past six months, leaving only five members in parliament.
Thulesen Dahl says he will consider Inger Støjberg's offer to join the Denmark Democrats, a new party currently gathering voter declarations to qualify for seats in parliament.
READ ALSO: Danish People's Party decimated by new high-profile departures
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