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COVID-19

Covid-19: Expert group says Denmark could reach 2020 peak infection numbers

The coming weeks could see Denmark match its highest ever totals for the number of daily infections with Covid-19, according to an advisory group. The number of patients admitted to hospitals with the virus will also increase.

Published: 3 November 2021 17:02 CET
Covid-19 testing in Denmark in October 2020. Infections are expected to remain high in coming weeks, notably amongst under-60s and unvaccinated people. an expert group said on November 2nd.
Covid-19 testing in Denmark in October 2020. Infections are expected to remain high in coming weeks, notably amongst under-60s and unvaccinated people. an expert group said on November 2nd. Photo: Henning Bagger/Ritzau Scanpix

An updated forecast for infection trends in November and early December was released on Tuesday by an expert group for mathematical modelling under the national infectious disease agency, State Serum Institute (SSI).

The group estimates between 2,000 and 4,500 infections per day at the beginning of December provided societal activity continues as it is now.

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The record-highest number of infections recorded in a day in Denmark was 4,508 at the peak of the second wave on December 18th last year.

Up to 60-160 people could be hospitalised with the virus daily in early December, according to the projections. This does not mean the number of people in hospital with Covid-19 will increase this much each day, because it does not take into account the number of discharged patients.

The mathematical modelling accounts for the period up to December 5th.

Wednesday saw 1,978 new infections with Covid-19 registered in Denmark, according to SSI’s daily update. 114,365 tests were conducted, giving a test positivity rate of 1.73 percent.

264 people were in hospital in Denmark with the coronavirus at Wednesday’s update, which showed an increase in the total for the fourth consecutive day. It is also the highest number for hospitalisations since February.

The expert group expects the majority of infections between now and December to occur in people under the age of 60 and those who have not been vaccinated against Covid-19.

It should be noted that the projections are estimates and must be attached with a degree of uncertainty. Some of that certainty lies in potential changes to public behaviour if infections continue to increase, the expert group said.

An earlier projection by the group, released in October, proved to give a low estimate of the number of hospitalisations now occurring.

That may be explained in part by increased testing, including of patients who are admitted to hospital for non-Covid-19 reasons in accordance with new guidelines.

A change in public activity may also be a factor.

“We cannot say quite exactly what the reason is for this jump. It comes in the wake of the autumn holidays where people are often closer and together with their families in mixed generations,” Doctor Camilla Holten Møller, head of the expert group, said in a press statement.

An updated projection by the expert group is due two weeks from now.

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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.

Published: 26 October 2023 11:10 CEST
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.  

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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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