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Danish rail company criticised after scrapping coronavirus seat reservation rule

Denmark’s national rail company DSB has decided to abolish a requirement for seat reservations which it introduced earlier this year.

Published: 5 August 2020 16:55 CEST
Danish rail company criticised after scrapping coronavirus seat reservation rule
Photo: Liselotte Sabroe/Ritzau Scanpix

The rule was implemented by DSB as a measure to reduce crowding on trains and thereby the risk of coronavirus spread.

But reservations will no longer be required as of Wednesday, the company announced.

Passengers are also free to decide whether to wear face masks on DSB services at their own discretion. Last week, health authorities changed official guidance, advising use of the protective item on busy public transport.

But the decision by DSB has been challenged by commentators in Denmark, given that Covid-19 cases in the country are currently increasing.

Health spokesperson with the Conservative party Per Larsen wrote on Twitter that he “did not understand” the move from DSB.

“Face mask recommendations have been introduced because it can be difficult to keep a distance during rush hour. Now DSB is removing the requirement that prevents overcrowded trains – and ensures passengers can keep their distance. Why?”, Larsen wrote, adding that he would take the issue up with health minister Magnus Heunicke.

 

DSB head of communication Tony Bispeskov defended the move, which comes at a time when Denmark is seeing its highest daily infection figures since May.

“We are doing this because the Danish Health Authority is now stating that it’s fine to travel on public transport. But when it is busy, and that will happen, you should wear a face mask. You can easily take the train and have a face mask in your pocket or bag and put it on if you don’t think it’s possible to keep a distance,” Bispeskov said to DR.

Seat reservations are not required for Metro and bus passengers, he also noted.

A further 112 confirmed cases of Covid-19 were registered in Denmark on Wednesday, according to figures from national institute SSI.

That reflects rising numbers, after 77 new cases were confirmed on Tuesday.

Wednesday’s figure is the highest number of daily registered cases of infection since May 8th, with the exception of Mondays, when infection figures for the preceding weekend are also published.

READ ALSO: Danish health expert does not recommend further reopening due to increase in Covid-19 cases

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COVID-19

Public Health Agency recommends two Covid doses next year for elderly

Sweden's Public Health Agency is recommending that those above the age of 80 should receive two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine a year, once in the spring and once in the autumn, as it shifts towards a longer-term strategy for the virus.

Published: 23 December 2022 10:53 CET
Public Health Agency recommends two Covid doses next year for elderly

In a new recommendation, the agency said that those living in elderly care centres, and those above the age of 80 should from March 1st receive two vaccinations a year, with a six month gap between doses. 

“Elderly people develop a somewhat worse immune defence after vaccination and immunity wanes faster than among young and healthy people,” the agency said. “That means that elderly people have a greater need of booster doses than younger ones. The Swedish Public Health Agency considers, based on the current knowledge, that it will be important even going into the future to have booster doses for the elderly and people in risk groups.” 

READ ALSO: 

People between the ages of 65 and 79 years old and young people with risk factors, such as obesity, diabetes, poor kidney function or high blood pressure, are recommended to take one additional dose per year.

The new vaccination recommendation, which will start to apply from March 1st next year, is only for 2023, Johanna Rubin, the investigator in the agency’s vaccination programme unit, explained. 

She said too much was still unclear about how long protection from vaccination lasted to institute a permanent programme.

“This recommendation applies to 2023. There is not really an abundance of data on how long protection lasts after a booster dose, of course, but this is what we can say for now,” she told the TT newswire. 

It was likely, however, that elderly people would end up being given an annual dose to protect them from any new variants, as has long been the case with influenza.

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