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Copenhagen (dpa) - Denmark is cautiously easing some of its corona restrictions in view of the lower number of infections and simultaneous concern about the British virus variant.
After more than two months, most stores in the country are allowed to reopen on Monday, provided their retail space is less than 5000 square meters and they are not located in shopping centers.
Justice Minister Nick Hækkerup announced this in Copenhagen.
However, concerns about virus mutants remain.
The British virus variant is now the dominant one in Denmark, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said in the evening.
The partial reopening of public life with expected higher corona numbers represents a "calculated risk", said Frederiksen.
The director of the health administration, Søren Brostrøm, pointed out by her side that the mutations had given the corona situation a new character.
This means that in the case of new chains of infection, the situation could worsen faster and more violently than during the first two corona waves.
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Therefore, the government is proceeding very cautiously with the easing.
It essentially follows the recommendations of health experts.
That was not enough for the opposition, which is why Frederiksen's Social Democrats only reached an agreement on how to proceed with their left-wing supporter parties.
In addition to the extensive opening of the retail trade, the agreed plan now also provides for outdoor cultural institutions such as zoos and amusement parks to be allowed to receive visitors again from Monday if they can present a negative corona test no more than 72 hours old.
The restriction for organized outdoor sports and club activities will be increased from 5 to a maximum of 25 participants.
In North and West Jutland some of the graduating classes are allowed back to their schools, and on the Baltic island of Bornholm even all pupils are allowed.
However, everyone should be over twelve years old and, like the staff, should do corona tests twice a week.
Hairdressers and other service providers are also allowed to reopen on Bornholm with test requirements.
Nationwide in February only pupils up to fourth grade were allowed to return to their schools.
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The number of new infections in Denmark has fallen significantly since mid-December and is currently among the lowest in the EU.
The British variant gave the government in Copenhagen a serious headache.
As the numbers from the SSI health institute updated on Wednesday, virus variant B.1.1.7 has been detected in almost 60 percent of the corona samples analyzed so far from the previous week.
On February 27, it was a year ago that the first corona case was detected in Denmark.
Even then, the government took strict measures and closed borders against the corona virus.
Since then, the EU country has registered more than 200,000 infections and almost 2,350 related deaths.
Several of the current corona measures are now being extended again, including the corona-related entry restrictions.
The Danish Foreign Ministry continues to advise against travel to and from all countries in the world until April 5th.
At the same time, most foreigners, with the exception of people from the border area, must be able to show a recognized reason for entry and a current negative corona test in order to be allowed into the country.
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In order to be allowed to enter the country, foreigners who are not resident in Denmark must be able to show a valid reason such as a job or visiting close relatives in addition to a negative corona test that is no more than 24 hours old.
Exceptions apply to residents of the border regions in Germany and Sweden: if you have a valid reason for entry, a negative test no longer than 72 hours is sufficient.
Without such a reason, a test report that is not older than 24 hours must be submitted.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210224-99-578935 / 2
Danish corona numbers
SSI numbers for the British virus variant