Denmark will tighten up its restrictive measures against Covid-19 by closing shops during the holidays in the face of the continued increase in the number of cases, the Prime Minister announced on Wednesday (December 16th).

“From Friday December 25 to January 3, Denmark will be really closed”, except for food stores and pharmacies, announced Mette Frederiksen.

The shopping centers will be closed on Thursday, followed by a first series of activities from December 21, then all non-essential shops from the 25.

These restrictions join the long list of measures taken to curb the growing rise in new cases, after the extension to the whole country on Tuesday of semi-containment measures (closure of middle and high schools, bars, restaurants, sports centers and places cultural) to the whole country.

January and February in the crosshairs

Health authorities on Wednesday recorded 3,692 cases and 14 deaths in 24 hours in the kingdom of 5.8 million inhabitants, which will soon exceed the mark of 120,000 cases and 1,000 deaths.

"The new restrictions are not for fun, but because they are necessary for the whole of society," said Industry Minister Peter Hummelgaard.

Authorities fear that January and February will be the worst months of the pandemic, said Mette Frederiksen, urging her fellow citizens to spend the holidays in small groups.

On Wednesday, the WHO recommended wearing the mask during Christmas family reunions and the end of the year celebrations in Europe, warning of a "high risk" of the epidemic rebounding again in early 2021.

With AFP

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