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Aarhus coronavirus restrictions extended despite improving figures

Measures introduced in Aarhus to slow down an increase in coronavirus infections have been extended until September 4th.

Published: 20 August 2020 12:05 CEST
Aarhus coronavirus restrictions extended despite improving figures
Photo: Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix

Despite improvements in infections figures in Aarhus in recent days, the Danish Patient Safety Authority is to extend measures against the virus, the authority confirmed in a statement on its website.

The measures include recommendations to work from home wherever possible and avoid busy times at supermarkets; and for youth education institutions to postpone physical attendance of classes.

The restrictions are due to a high rate of infections per 100,000 residents in Aarhus Municipality, despite a recent improvement that saw only 13 new cases registered on Wednesday.

READ ALSO: New Danish Covid-19 cases back under 100: could figure be sign of downward trend?

But Silkeborg Municipality, which had also been in the spotlight of health authorities after cases increased there, could see restrictions lifted by August 24th, the Danish Patient Safety Authority said in the statement.

“If the positive trend in Silkeborg continues over the weekend, the measures introduced by the Danish Patient Safety Authority and (Silkeborg) municipality on August 10th with the aim of stopping infection spread will be lifted on August 24th,” the statement reads.

“Things are also going the right way in Aarhus, but … the number of cases per 100,000 people remains high and population density in Aarhus is relatively high. The situation will therefore be followed closely and the measures introduced on August 7th be extended, initially until September 4th,” it continues.

The requirement to wear face masks on public transport will remain in place in both cities however, with the rule since having been made national.

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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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