Megan Udinski, FISM News
This week Denmark, France and Sweden have become the latest European countries to lift or reduce their COVID restrictions following in the footsteps of other EU nations.
France maintained the most restrictive mandates of the three countries, which had led to protests from French citizens throughout the pandemic. French Prime Minister Jean Castex announced that the country will “lift most of the anti-epidemic measures in February.”
The ease in restrictions, however, is due to the roll out of a vaccination pass, restricting those without a vaccine from entering public venues. This vaccine pass rollout is considered phase 1. The next phase will take place Feb. 16 when the country plans to reopen social gatherings such as sporting events, standing room at concerts, night clubs and more.
Denmark eased the majority of their restrictions on Monday of this week as well.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, announced the new approach to COVID mitigation measures last week saying, “The pandemic is still here but with what we know, we now dare to believe that we are through the critical phase,”
A 17-year-old student from Denmark, Thea Skovgaard told Agence France-Presse (AFP), “I’m so happy that this is all going to be over. It’s good for life in the city, for nightlife, just to be able to be out longer.”
Epidemiologist Lone Simonsen of the University of Roskilde explained that Denmark has, “an extremely high coverage of adults vaccinated with three doses. With Omicron not being a severe disease for the vaccinated, we believe it is reasonable to lift restrictions.” Simonsen remarked that COVID is no longer a “socially critical disease.”
Some mandates will remain, however. Unvaccinated travelers trying to cross the border from outside Denmark’s free travel zone must take a test within 24 hours of entering the country. Also, the country still plans to enforce the use of face masks in hospitals and long-term care facilities.
Frederiksen took to Facebook on Monday writing “good morning to a completely open Denmark” showing her support for the decision to remove mandates as well as to thank vaccinated individuals for their playing a part in being able to reopen the country.
Similarly, Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson reported at a Stockholm news conference that due to “an improved understanding of the disease” along with the increasing vaccination rate and the health care system finding some reprieve, they too were removing the majority restrictions.
This decision comes off the heels of WHO regional director for Europe, Hans Kluge, announcing, “This period of higher protection should be seen as a cease-fire that could bring us enduring peace.” He cited the fact that Europe is experiencing high levels of immunity to the virus due to vaccinations and natural infections, the fact that the country is entering a warmer season where the virus tends to spread less, and a milder Omicron variant as the reasons for higher protection.
Not everyone is in support of dissolving these restrictions, however. WHO’s Geneva headquarters, director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated, “We are concerned that a narrative has taken hold in some countries that because of vaccines — and because of omicron’s high transmissibility and lower severity — preventing transmission is no longer possible and no longer necessary. Nothing could be further from the truth.”
In spite of his concerns and warning, many are ready to find some way back to ‘normal’ and hope to enter a post-pandemic era free from worrying about excessive restrictions.