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When Denmark stopped coronavirus control on Tuesday, the country’s infection rate was the highest in Europe. They are not yet.
The Nordic countries became Omicron’s European headquarters after a series of major events at the end of last year. Cases jumped from an average of 1,500 per million in mid-December to about 7,900 per 7,900 on January 29, three days before all social restrictions were lifted.
Upon hearing the Danish decision, World Health Organization Maria Van Kerkhove warned, “It’s not time to lift everything at once.” WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus argued that the epidemic causes less serious illnesses, but is so contagious that it causes more deaths.
However, in highly vaccinated Denmark, where more than 61% of the total population has increased and 91% of adults have primary education, the restrictions have been lifted simply because there are few cases of serious illness. ..
While hospitalizations are increasing, fewer patients are entering the intensive care unit. The length of hospital stay is short, and many cases have been discovered by chance among people hospitalized for other reasons.
“There is such a separation between infectious diseases and patients in the intensive care unit, mainly due to the great Danes’ attachment to re-vaccination,” Health Minister Magnus Hunicke said in a press conference. .. “That’s why it’s safe and the right thing to do now.”
trust me …
Like many European countries, Denmark imposed restrictions in early December, inspired by the rapid spread of Omicron. However, unlike others, we completely withdrew our measures when we felt safe. even now.
This extreme approach is widely endorsed by the public, said Michael Van Petersen, a professor of political science at Aarhus University who advises the government. This is primarily because people trust the government, but it also states that it trusts citizens to comply with measures to keep people safe.
Denmark ranks number one in the world on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions, demonstrating a transparent and reliable public sector. It became clear why Denmark was willing to accept the government’s decision.
“It’s not blind obedience,” Petersen said, as people feel they have enough information and confidence in the information from the authorities.
It is also the case to set an example and lead.
Simon Williams, a lecturer in human and health sciences at Swansea University, said: “And that’s not happening in Denmark.”
Flip-flop policies can undermine credibility in some countries, and vice versa in Denmark.
“Leading a credible country gives us more flexibility in adapting to the threats we face,” says Petersen. Danish citizens admit that the government is working in their best interests, he added.
For many young people, that meant allowing them to return to their favorite bars and nightclubs that were reopened late again without masks.
“I find it unrealistic. I’m just thinking,’Yes! Finally, I’ll be able to live normally again,'” said happy nightclub customer Nick Rasmussen this week. , Told the national broadcaster DR.
solidarity
For the older generation, helping the nightclub reopen is a way to show solidarity with young people who have done what they were asked to do to protect the vulnerable older people.
“During this wave, we are in solidarity with other societies and bear the additional costs of protecting ourselves,” said Petersen. But they are confident in dealing with the risks, so they are now tolerable, he added.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, Petersen has been tracking people’s feelings of social threat in the Hope project, which is currently the lowest percentage in Denmark. Danes are more concerned that the hospital system is working better than catching the coronavirus. And if the hospital deals well, people will feel less threatened.
John Preston, a professor of sociology at the University of Essex, argued that such early deregulation was also an indicator of the country’s commitment to democracy.
“There is evidence that sustained emergency power creates greater corruption and helps incumbent governments maintain power,” he said. “Removing restrictions in Denmark and other countries supports the democratic process and helps voters eliminate bad governments in elections.”
Denmark’s bold move, unanimously endorsed by political parties, is broadly in line with current public opinion. Shortly thereafter, Sweden announced that it would lift all restrictions by February 9.
“Omicron doesn’t seem to be that serious,” nurse Astrid Brune, who speaks to Ekstra Bladet, said in a street interview. “People don’t look as sick as they used to, so I think it should work. I think we have to learn to live with it.”
This is mainly due to the vaccine. High recruitment is another sign of confidence in Danish institutions and leaders. The Danish decision to stop using AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines last spring and instead rely on BioNTech / Pfizer and Moderna jabs help build public confidence in available vaccines and authorities. I did. That is despite the European Medicines Agency’s advice that the benefits of these jabs outweigh the risks.
However, vaccines alone cannot stop the epidemic of the coronavirus, which killed 125 people in Denmark last week. This is an increase from 111 in the previous week and 106 in the first week of this year.
The Statens Serum Insect of Denmark has so far confirmed that the infection rate of young people is high, but the weekly update of COVID-19 on February 3 increases the infection of elderly people aged 50 to 79 years. It states that it is doing. Currently, the data is limited. How well the boosted elderly are protected from serious illnesses from Omicron.
In addition, Omicron’s BA.2 sect is accelerating, surpassing the original Omicron strains in the country. Studies in Denmark have suggested that this version is even more contagious and better at avoiding vaccine protection, but early data from the UK show that the latter is mostly between them. It suggests that there is no difference.
Whether Denmark’s drastic decision is too early will be clear in the coming days and weeks. Denmark is a test case for living with the virus, and people are happy now, but over time it will be clear if politicians have made the right call. Otherwise, it can adversely affect not only people’s health, but also the country’s long-standing trust.
“After all, when everything is said and done, trust comes from the results,” Williams said. “Therefore, in retrospect, there is a risk that trust can be adversely affected if this is considered a bit premature or a bit extreme in terms of removing restrictions.”
Charlie Daxbury contributed to the report.
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