Danish life without masks

Denmark lifted all measures against the new coronavirus in September.

This means that masks are not mandatory indoors. Public life, including schools and universities, remains open.

More than 80 percent of the population is vaccinated. For comparison: in Slovenia, vaccination coverage is just over 40 percent.

But vaccination is not the only reason for the successful fight of the Danes with the epidemic.

When the new coronavirus began its deadly march across Europe in 2020, Denmark was among the first to opt for a rapid and mass closure of public life. The Danes then relaxed or tightened the measures, depending on the situation.

But measures only help if people stick to them. Solidarity and citizens’ trust in them were also important for a successful fight against the epidemic.

We can’t ignore a third reason: these are their habits. Danes rarely shake hands, but only hug their closest friends. However, limited contact significantly reduces the possibility of virus transmission.

We could jokingly say that the Danes followed the recommendation of social distance even before the coronavirus appeared.

Namely, Danes are happy with the little things in life. Instead of hanging out with friends in bars, they appreciate evenings at home and the time they spend with family.

This is called hygge; the word embraces feelings of comfort and connection to the community.

Last but not least, the effective fight against the epidemic has also been made possible by a quality health system that is accessible to all, and by epidemiologically justified measures aimed at the well-being of the people.

»Despite the current good epidemiological picture, the epidemic is not over. Therefore, the Danish government will not hesitate to introduce new measures if necessary,« warns Danish Health Minister Magnus Heunicke.

Points To Consider

1. Do you know any other country that is successful in the epidemic?
2. What is the capital of Denmark?
3. Do you remember who the famous Danish writer is?

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The original version of this article was published on September 28th.

English translation courtesy of JL Flanner, Total Slovenia News, an English language website with news from and about Slovenia.