Minister of Health Magnus Heunicke says that the health authorities will issue guidelines for large political demonstrations (DK) in order to avoid the spread of the coronavirus. At least one person who attended the Black Lives Matter demonstration on June 7, along with 15,000 others, has tested positive, and other people who were part of the closely packed crowd are urged to be tested.
Event arrangers “will get a very concrete evaluation from the Danish Patient Safety Authority on how they should conduct the demonstration purely from a healthcare perspective,” said Heunicke. He stressed that this measure will not abridge people’s constitutional right to stage political demonstrations, which are the only exceptions allowed to the restrictions on the number of people who may attend gatherings. On June 8 the limit on gatherings was raised from ten to 50.
More requests for tests
Since Heunicke urged demonstration participants to be tested, the number of referrals for tests has risen (DK). The day after, there were 400 more bookings than usual. “I thought it was an opportunity to take responsibility for what I did and to see whether or not I have been infected,” said one person at the Test Center, who had worn a face mask and tried to keep a distance from other demonstrators. Despite the rise in bookings for the tests in the capital region, the testing is still below capacity.
Flashmob with precautions
BLM was to hold another demonstration (DK) on Thursday, and the spokesperson for the organization, Bwalya Sørensen, says that it would use special measures to prevent the spread of the virus. It bought 250 face masks, it had lots of sanitizer, and it would divide participants up into groups of 50 or fewer. “We have chosen a flashmob instead of a demonstration,” said Sørensen. “We have done it simply to keep the number of participants down.” More than 100 people have signed up for the event.
After the demonstration on June 7, Sørensen received criticism for issuing restrictions on the behavior of white people at the event. The Ritzau news agency wanted to ask her whether the guidelines would also apply at the new demonstration, but she hung up the phone.
Virus infiltrates key export product
A coronavirus outbreak has been identified in a new location, a mink farm in northern Jutland (DK). The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration has tested 34 mink and placed restrictions on the farm. The herd in question will be slaughtered, and the farm will be quarantined. Mink breeding is an important industry in Denmark, which is the largest mink breeder in the world, with almost 1,400 mink farms.
This is the first time the coronavirus has been discovered at one of them. The infection probably came from an employee or the owner the farm, say the authorities.There were coronavirus outbreaks at two mink farms in the Netherlands in April.
“We will be completely certain that we do all that we can to limit the infection,” said Mogens Jensen, Minister of Environment and Food, “also among mink.” The ministry is investigating how the infection arose and preparing a testing strategy for other mink farms in the region, among other measures. Healthcare researchers are not worried (DK) that the infection will spread from mink to people and say that pet owners shouldn’t be afraid that their dogs and cats will make them sick.
The government and most of the other parliamentary parties reached an agreement on the next stimulus package (DK) Monday evening. The new program is intended to replace the original rescue package, which will be phased out at the end of the summer. In addition to the release of vacation savings and the one-off disbursement to people on transfer payments described earlier, it contains several features intended to support the Danish economy.
The wage compensation for the self-employed (DK) will be extended one month and then stop on August 8, as will compensation for cultural enterprises. The period of unemployment benefits will be extended two months in order to give the jobless better opportunities to seek work and to give employers time to reestablish positions after layoffs made during the lockdown.
Support for the private sector
A state fund is being established in order to recapitalize large companies that are important to the Danish economy. It will thus serve as “investor of last resort” for businesses that have exhausted normal financing options. Some DKK 10 billion ($1.5 billion) will be placed in the fund. An export package will consist of DKK 500 million ($75 million) that will be used to ensure the solvency of otherwise healthy export companies that need a sure source of capital.
Denmark depends on exports
Exports account for half of the Danish economy (DK), and some 80,000 jobs in the sector were lost during the coronavirus crisis. Representatives of industrial employers and employees warn that the crisis is not over. “The situation is very serious, and I also think it has been a blind spot for ordinary Danes and also perhaps politicians,” says Claus Jensen of the Danske Metal trade union. Exports have not suffered as much as had been expected, but the industry leaders warn that if other countries’ economies do not recover quickly, Danish firms will not get orders and will need to make another round of layoffs.
“If we can afford to rescue hairdressers and restaurants,” continues Jensen, “we must ensure that what we live off of in Denmark also exists on the other side of the crisis.”
Salvaging the summer
Some DKK 700 million ($100 million) will be used in a so-called “summer package” (DK) that will support recreational and cultural activities for various groups during the summer. It will give children and young people opportunities to participate in summer camps, football leagues, swimming classes and the like. A certain amount is earmarked for children from disadvantaged backgrounds who have been hurt the worst by the closing of schools and recreational activities during the lockdown. In her New Year’s Day speech, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen promised to give special attention to foster children and other disadvantaged youths.
The package will also include support for activities in natural surroundings for the elderly and other features that have not yet been settled. The government is working on a proposal to help the airline industry as well.
