Denmark sees first coronavirus outbreak since lockdown lifted

With 53 infections per 100,000 people, the municipality now has the highest infection rate in Denmark, more even than Herlev, a suburb of Copenhagen which has 47 infections per 100,000 people. 

 

The municipality has reacted rapidly, stopping all non-essential visits to all of its elderly care homes after 12 residents and 13 employees tested positive at the Vendelbocenter elderly care home. 

 

It has sent home all pupils and three teachers connected with a class at Højene Skole, and all the teachers and pupils from a kindergarten class and third grade class at the Bagterp school, after pupils tested positive in all three classes. 

 

Magnus Heunicke, Denmark's health minister, said that outbreak should be a warning. 

 

“This outbreak shows that despite the low reproduction number, we cannot consider ourselves safe,” he said in a press release. “This disease spreads at with enormous speed, and just a single infection can quickly release a chain of infection through a community.” 

 

He said Denmark's authorities were now working rapidly to protect the elderly and trace and isolate all who have been infected. 

 

 

Hjørring municipality is now testing all of its elderly care workers, all of the residents in the municipality's care homes, and all teachers at the two schools affected.