Denmark and Norway announced stricter Covid measures in response to the soaring number of infections, as the authorities said that the new Omicron variant is spreading rapidly and may become dominant in several EU countries within weeks or even days.
In the context of different conditions on the mainland, including the sharp decline in the number of cases in many countries, the Scandinavian governments have stated that they expect the number of daily infections will soon exceed all previous records because of this height. The spread of variants combined and fueled a wave that was still mainly driven by previous delta mutations.
Denmark, like the United Kingdom, conducts extensive rapid gene sequencing to detect mutations. It is second only to the United Kingdom in the number of confirmed mutation cases. 3,473 cases were found in a population of 5.8 million, of which 80.6% were double spurs.
Danish Government last week Schools and universities will be closed early to curb nightlife and promote remote work. On Tuesday, all people over 40 will be given booster injections six weeks earlier than planned to curb the spread of the virus.
National health authorities reported on Monday that the number of new cases per week has increased by 50%, the highest level since the pandemic began. The number of daily infections reached 7,799, twice the number on the same day last week.
Although the surge is mainly driven by the Delta variant, it said that it expects Omicron to dominate in the capital Copenhagen from this week, and soon dominate the country.exist NorwayAuthorities said that before Christmas, Omicron will “have a firm foothold and dominate the country”.
Norwegian officials warned that unless the new measures are proven effective, Omicron may infect 90,000 to 300,000 people every day in the next three weeks, compared with the previous peak of about 1,000, and the number of hospitalizations may double.
In recent days, Norway has recorded a record number of infections and hospitalizations. Among them, 958 cases of Omicron were reported on Monday, including 472 cases in the capital Oslo. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre warned that the situation would be serious.
Støre said that combining the still dominant variant of Delta with the rapidly spreading Omicron will create “complete saturation of the national health system.” He announced on Monday night that it would provide health workers and everyone with enhanced injections- 45 seconds.
The Prime Minister also announced that starting Wednesday, bars and restaurants will no longer serve alcoholic beverages, remote work will be mandatory if possible, the requirement to wear masks will be extended, and access to swimming pools and gyms will be restricted.
“There is no doubt that the new version does change the rules. That is why we need to act quickly, and we need to act again,” Støre said. “For many people, this feels like a blockade. If it weren’t for social blockade, then their lives and livelihoods would be blocked.”
Elsewhere EuropeLast month, before the emergence of Omicron, the number of infections fell sharply in countries in Central and Eastern Europe, including Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium, as well as Slovakia, Czech Republic, and Croatia, which experienced major ups and downs last month.
However, there are also signs that the recent rapid surge may start to slow down, French officials warned that European and American light will almost certainly trigger the sixth wave, while cases in southern European countries that have largely escaped the autumn wave are increasing. It began to rise rapidly.
Martin Hirsch, head of the Paris AP-HP Hospital Group, the largest hospital system in Europe, said on Monday that France should prepare for the Omicron-driven infection wave that began in January, and Belgium’s chief epidemiologist Said that he expects the new surge to be “about the time of the New Year.”
Although the number of cases is steadily declining, the Dutch government is expected to announce on Tuesday that schools will be closed a week before Christmas because the infection rate is still high and hospitals are also struggling to cope with a wave of patients.
Since late November, restaurants, bars, non-essential shops and other public places in the Netherlands have been closed from 5 pm to 5 am to slow the spread of the virus.