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Covid-19 travel: Denmark changes France, Belgium colours in latest update

A number of popular holiday destinations were changed from green to yellow in the latest update to the Danish foreign ministry’s Covid-19 travel guidelines.

Covid-19 travel: Denmark changes France, Belgium colours in latest update
French capital Paris is among the regions to change colour in Denmark's updated weekly Covid-19 travel guidelines. Photo: Vibeke Toft/Staff/Ritzau Scanpix

France was changed from a green to a yellow country in the update on Friday, although 9 of France’s 13 regions will remain green under the regional application of the traffic light system.

Like France, Belgium also switches from green to yellow. One Belgian region remains green.

Danish residents returning home from travel to a yellow country are required to take a Covid-19 test on their return to Denmark. Exceptions apply for people who are fully vaccinated or previously infected with the coronavirus.

Denmark classifies countries and regions around the world into four categories for Covid-19 travel restrictions: green, yellow, orange and red. The colour codes determine the rules that must be observed to enter Denmark, including those related to quarantine or isolation.

The requirements vary depending on whether you are travelling with a negative recent test, are fully vaccinated or have previously been infected with Covid-19. You can read more about the rules for each of the colour categories here and rules during isolation here.

An official list of the countries and regions which fall into each category is here. The list is usually updated on Fridays.

READ ALSO: What you need to know about Denmark’s colour classification for travel rules

French capital Paris is among the regions to go yellow on Friday, as are the two regions encompassing the country’s Mediterranean coast as well as the island of Corsica.

The Belgian region to avoid switching to yellow is Wallonia, which stays green. Capital Brussels is now yellow.

Greece also sees more regions turn from yellow to green adding to the parts of the country which were changed last week. That means that most of Greece is now yellow.

No changes were made this week to the Danish foreign ministry’s guidelines for travel to the United Kingdom.

Since last week, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland have been red on the four-tier colour system for Covid-19 travel restrictions, while Wales is orange. Those colours will remain in place until at least July 31st.

That means the ministry still advises against all travel to all of the UK with the exception of Wales, which remains orange (all non-essential travel is discouraged).

As such, all travellers resident in England, Northern Ireland and Scotland will need to present a PCR test taken within the past 72 hours before boarding a plane to Denmark and will need to isolate upon arrival, even if previously vaccinated or infected.

Vaccinated people from Wales can still travel to Denmark without having to isolate.

Additionally, a worthy purpose is required to enter Denmark for all visitors from red countries. For orange countries, vaccinated people do not require a worthy purpose to enter Denmark, but people travelling on the basis of a recent negative test or prior infection do need a worthy purpose. It should be noted that the list of valid worthy purposes is shorter for red countries than for orange countries. You can read more about the specific rules and criteria for fulfilling a worthy purpose here.

The new travel guidelines come into effect at 4pm on Saturday, July 24th.

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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. 

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