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North Denmark in lockdown as millions of minks with mutated coronavirus ordered to be culled
- Copenhagen warns that new version of virus could threaten effectiveness of future vaccines
- The cull of 15 million minks may spell the end of Denmark’s status as the world’s largest mink fur producer, with most exports going to China and Hong Kong
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Hundreds of thousands of people went into lockdown on Friday in the north of Denmark, where a mutated variation of the coronavirus has infected minks being farmed for their fur, leading to an order to kill all the animals in the country.
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Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the move was meant to contain Covid-19, and it came two days after the government ordered the cull the 15 million minks bred at Denmark’s 1,139 mink farms.
The coronavirus evolves constantly and, to date, there is no evidence that any of the mutations pose an increased danger to people. But Danish authorities were not taking any chances.
In seven northern Denmark, municipalities with some 280,000 residents sport and cultural activities have been suspended, public transport has been stopped and regional borders have been closed.
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Only people with so-called “critical functions” such as police and health officials and different authorities are being permitted to cross municipal boundaries.
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