Denmark to Lift All Restrictions... Europe Moving Toward 'With Corona' Despite Omicron

Netherlands and Ireland Ease COVID-19 Restrictions

Last September, Danes were spending time at outdoor cafes.
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] Denmark appears set to lift all measures it had taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Other European countries are also easing quarantine policies and shifting to a 'With Corona' approach despite daily surges in cases due to the Omicron variant.

The Danish daily newspaper Jyllands-Posten reported on the 25th (local time) that "Denmark will soon lift the restrictions it had imposed," adding that "Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen will announce related details on the afternoon of the 26th."

According to the media, Denmark's epidemic advisory committee recently recommended to authorities not to extend the current quarantine regulations, which are in effect until the 31st of this month. In particular, they proposed lifting the classification of COVID-19 as a socially critical threat disease.

Earlier, Denmark was the first to lift all COVID-19 related restrictions in early September last year as confirmed cases decreased and vaccination rates increased. However, due to a surge in cases afterward, quarantine measures were reintroduced consecutively from November last year.

What differs this time is that the proposal to lift restrictions has come amid a situation where more than 40,000 cases are being reported daily. Although infections are increasing due to Omicron, it seems the judgment was made that the situation is not as severe as before to require hospitalization.

In fact, despite the spread of Omicron, the rate of severe cases in Denmark is steadily decreasing. After reaching a peak of 82 on the 6th, the number has consistently declined to 43 as of the 24th.

Citizens of Eindhoven, Netherlands. / Photo by Yonhap News

Meanwhile, the Netherlands has also decided to lift restrictions on restaurants, bars, museums, and other venues starting from the 26th (local time). This is an additional easing measure following the reopening of shops, gyms, hair salons, and sports clubs on the 15th. Prior to this, the Netherlands had implemented a full lockdown, closing all non-essential businesses.

The Dutch government acknowledged that this measure might seem contradictory given the soaring number of confirmed cases. However, they emphasized the inevitability of easing restrictions, stating, "Continuing the restrictions would be more harmful to our health and society."

Earlier, Ireland, which experienced the worst outbreak since the pandemic began, lifted almost all quarantine regulations on the 22nd. At that time, Irish Prime Minister Miche?l Martin stated in a national address that "there is no longer any basis or justification to continue public health regulations."