SHARE
COPY LINK

COVID-19

Denmark to scrap face masks from Monday

Denmark's government has struck a deal with all but one of the parties in parliament to on Monday end the requirement to wear a face mask in all areas apart from on public transport.

Denmark to scrap face masks from Monday
Denmark's health minister Magnus Heunicke announced the deal early on Thursday morning. Photo: Philip Davali/Ritzau Scanpix

Under the agreement, struck after 3am following marathon all-night negotiations, the requirement to wear a face mask will be scrapped completely from October 1st.

The coronavirus health pass or coronapas will also begin to be phased out from Monday, when those visiting public libraries and participating in activities run by clubs and voluntary organisations will no longer be required to show one.

From August 1st, a valid coronapas will no longer be needed in theaters, concert venues, indoor sports activities, and a wide range of other venues, from September 1st, you will no longer need to show one in restaurants, the hairdresser or the gym, and on October 1st the pass will be phased out completely. 

The parties also agreed to extend opening hours of bars and restaurants from this Friday from 11pm to midnight, with closing time further pushed out to 2am on July 15th. 

The agreement also extends how long a negative PCR test provides a valid coronapas to 96 hours. 

“It is a marked opening of Danish society,” Magnus Heunicke, Denmark’s health minister said early on Thursday morning. 

“The infection is on the way down, 2.5 million people have received at least one vaccination dose, and the good weather is working in our favour,” he added in a press release

The government reached agreement with the Liberal Party, the Danish People’s Party, the Socialist People’s Party, the Social Liberal Party, the Red Green Alliance, the Conservatives, the Liberal Alliance and the Alternative. Only the populist New Right Party stood outside the deal. 

“This means that you can now go down and buy a litre of milk without having a face mask on,” Kristian Thulesen Dahl, leader of the Danish People’s Party, said at the press conference. 

Here are the significant dates in the reopening agreement: 

June 11th: Opening hours of bars and restaurants extended to midnight 

June 12th: Number of spectators allowed at Parken football stadium increased from 15,900 to 25,000 

June 14th: Face masks no longer required apart from when standing on public transport 

June 14th: Coronapas no longer required in public libraries, and activities around voluntary organisations or clubs

June 14th: Kindergartens, primary schools, after school clubs, youth and adult education expected to return to normal timetable

July 1st:  Restaurants where customers “essentially sit down” no longer need to meet area requirements or follow distance recommendations 

July 15th: Opening hours of bars and restaurants extended to 2am

September 1st: Nightclubs and discos can reopen for those with valid coronapas 

October 1st: Coronapas no longer required anywhere 

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.
For members

COVID-19

Who should get vaccinated against Covid and flu in Denmark and when?

It is still free to get a Covid-19 vaccine in Denmark if you are over the age of 65 or have a health condition, with the health authorities now running Covid and flu vaccinations together. Here's what you need to know.

Who should get vaccinated against Covid and flu in Denmark and when?

Who is being offered a vaccine for Covid-19 or flu this autumn? 

According to the information on the Danish Health Authority’s website, Covid-19 and flu vaccines are being offered to: 

  • People over the age of 65
  • People under the age of 65 who have a health condition which puts them at increased risk. You can find a list of the long-term health conditions deemed a risk here
  • Pregnant women in the 2nd and 3rd trimester

Children between 2 and 6 years of age are being offered a special flu vaccine for children, which is administered as a nose spray, but not the Covid vaccine (unless they fit one of the categories above). 

Those who have retired early, for whatever reason, are also being offered the flu vaccine but not a Covid-19 vaccine.  

People over the age of 65 and the parents of children between the ages of 2 and 6 will automatically receive an invitation to get vaccinated though their digital postbox at borger.dk, e-Boks and mit.dk.

People in the other eligible categories will not receive an invitation. 

If you have not yet received an invitation, do not worry, as invitations are being staggered over October and the start of November.  

READ ALSO: 

When and where can I get vaccinated? 

This year’s autumn vaccination campaign started on October 1st and will continue until January 15th. 

You can get vaccinated at one of over 50 regional vaccination sites all over Denmark, or at the over 280 local pharmacies which are signed up to be part of the programme. 

Residents of care homes for the elderly and others in need will be offered vaccinated at their home.

You can log in and book an appointment at your nearest centre or pharmacy at Denmark’s official vaccination website www.vacciner.dk.

Is it possible to get vaccinated against both flu and Covid-19 at the same time? 

The Danish Health Authority has judged that it is safe to receive vaccines against both flu and Covid-19 at the same time, but the two vaccines cannot be mixed in the same syringe, so you will receive two separate injections. 

Is vaccination compulsory? 

No. Although the strongly recommends everyone in the various risk categories to get vaccinated, it is up to every individual whether to do so. 

Is it possible to get vaccinated even if I am not over 65 or in a risk group? 

It is no longer possible to get vaccinated against Covid-19 or flu through Denmark’s national vaccination programme if you are not in one of the recommended categories, after the country’s health authorities stopped offering paid vaccinations.  

But it remains possible to get vaccinated at a private vaccination centre, such as the SikkerRejse chain found in most Danish towns. The chain, which has a waiting list, offers doses of the latest Comirnaty Omicron XBB.1.5 vaccine for a total price of 995 kroner. 

SHOW COMMENTS