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Denmark tightens rules on travel from UK to slow Delta variant

Denmark is to tighten restrictions for travel from the UK in response to the spread of the Delta variant of Covid-19, which was first detected in India, and has now become the dominant variant among samples sequenced in the UK.

Published: 9 June 2021 10:36 CEST

Denmark tightens rules on travel from UK to slow Delta variant

A member of staff at the UK's Heathrow Airport helps a passenger in May. Photo: John Sibley/Reuters/Ritzau Scanpix

The new tighter restrictions will apply from midnight on Thursday and will remain in place until June 26th, the Danish foreign ministry said in a press release issued late on Tuesday.

Under the new restrictions, travellers from the UK to Denmark will need to show a negative PCR test less than 48 hours old before boarding a flight from the UK. Previously it was also possible to show a negative antigen, or rapid, test.

Anyone resident in the UK who enters Denmark by sea, land or plane will also need to show a negative PCR test less than 48 hours old.

The country is also changing its travel advice to warn Danish residents and citizens against travelling, even for business reasons, to four hard-hit areas: Bedford, Blackburn with Darwen, Bolton and Rossendale. These areas will be classed as “red” in Denmark’s traffic light system.

Anyone entering Denmark from these areas, or who lives in these areas, will also be subject to the guidelines for “red countries”, Denmark’s toughest restrictions, meaning only those whose reason for travel is included in the country’s shortest list of “essential reasons” can enter Denmark.

The travel guidance for the rest of the UK will remain “orange”, with all unnecessary travel to the UK for Danish residents discouraged.

The ministry does not advise Danish travellers currently in the UK to travel home, but asks them instead to be aware of whether they have stayed in one of the four high risk areas during their trip.

The stricter travel rules for the UK do not affect the decision from June 5th to allow UK citizens who have been fully vaccinated to travel to Denmark without needing to prove a “worthy purpose”, show a negative test result before boarding, or self-isolate on arrival.

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Explore Austria: Mauer, a charming wine-hiking spot on Vienna’s outskirts

Beautiful views and cosy taverns await you on the edge of Vienna. Photo: Catherine Edwards

Wine-hiking is an autumn must-do in Austria. There’s the official Wine Hiking Day (Weinwandertag) that usually draws in big crowds, but it’s also possible to follow the routes through beautiful scenery and wine taverns on your own.

Mauer in the southwest of Vienna is one of the routes that is mostly frequented by locals.

The footpath takes you through scenic vineyards. Photo: Catherine Edwards

You can reach this part of the 23rd district using Vienna’s public transport, and you have a few options. From the Hietzing station on the U4 line, you can take the tramline 60 or bus 56A. The former will take you either to Mauer’s central square or you can get off earlier at Franz-Asenbauer-Gasse to start the hike. If it’s too early in the day for wine just yet, you could start your day at the small and charming Designo cafe (Geßlgasse 6).

Otherwise, the residential area itself doesn’t have much to see, but keep an eye out as you wander between the taverns later — there are some beautiful buildings.

To start the hike, head west along Franz-Asenbauer Gasse, which will take you up into the vineyards, growing some red wine and Vienna’s specialty Gemischter Satz or ‘field blend’, which as the name suggests is a mixture of different types of grapes.

Photo: Catherine Edwards

The paved road takes a left turn, but the hiking route follows a smaller path further upwards. Here you’ll have magnificent views over the whole of Vienna.

If you stick to the official hiking route (see a map from Weinwandern here) you can keep the whole route under 5 kilometres. But more adventurous types don’t need to feel limited.

You can also follow the Stadtwanderweg 6 route (see a map here) either in full, which will add on a hefty 13 kilometres, or just in part, and venture further into the Mauerwald. If you do this, one spot to aim for is the Schießstätte, a former hunting lodge offering hearty Austrian meals.

EXPLORE AUSTRIA

In any case, you should definitely take a small detour to see the Wotrubakirche, an example of brutalist architecture from the mid-1970s built on a site that was used as a barracks during the Second World War.

Not far from the church is the Pappelteich, a small pond that is not only an important habitat for local flora and fauna, but a popular picnic spot for hikers. Its only water supply is from the rain, and due to climate change the pond has almost dried out in recent years, prompting the city to take action to boost its water supply by adding a permanent pipe.

The church is made up of over 150 concrete blocks. Photo: Catherine Edwards

What you really come to Mauer for, though, are the Heuriger or Viennese wine taverns.

The most well-known is Edlmoser (Maurer Lange Gasse 123) which has previously been named as the best in Vienna. Note that it’s not open all year so check the website, but in 2021 it should be open between November 5th and 21st, and is also serving the goose that is a popular feature on Viennese menus this time of year.

Tip for translating Heuriger opening times: look for the word ausg’steckt, which is used by those taverns which aren’t open year round. They will also often show that they’re open by attaching a bunch of green twigs to the sign or front door.

Buschenschank Grausenburger. Photo: Catherine Edwards

Also worth visiting are cosy Buschenschank Grausenburger (Maurer Lange Gasse 101a), Heuriger Wiltschko (Wittgensteinstrasse 143 — located near the start of the hiking route, this is a good place to begin your tour) and Heuriger Fuchs-Steinklammer (Jesuitensteig 28).

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