The lockdown, which began in Denmark on March 11th, had a measurable impact on people’s emotional state, according to a survey-based study conducted by researchers at the university.

“We asked Danes during the first round at the end of March and beginning of April, when the pandemic peaked [in Denmark, ed.] and the spread of infection was highest and the most deaths with coronavirus occurred,” Søren Dinesen Østergaard, professor at Aarhus University’s Department of Clinical Medicine, told DR.

“We could see here that the level of mental well-being in the public was low compared to previous studies,” he said.

The survey was sent to around 2,000 people in Denmark, asking them to respond to two questions, DR writes.

“It asks how you are when you get up in the morning, if you have a positive outlook in life, are you fresh and well-rested,” Østergaard said.

The survey, which was developed by the World Health Organization, was conducted in 30 countries worldwide.

A second round took place in Denmark three weeks into April.

“The same Danes got the same survey and it appeared that mental well-being had increased significantly,” the professor said to DR.

Denmark’s daily fatality count had dropped significantly by the end of that month and the first steps of the country’s reopening were underway.

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