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The number of newly infected people with the coronavirus has skyrocketed again in Denmark and Norway in recent weeks.
The Danish disease control body, the Statens Serum Institut (SSI), reported on Thursday a 73 per cent increase in Covid-19 cases in the first two weeks of October.
This corresponds to an incidence of 148, with the capital region of Copenhagen being particularly affected.
In Norway, the number of people testing positive rose by 53 per cent in one week. However, the number of cases requiring hospital treatment was at a low level in both countries.
Rowdy celebrations, brawls erupt in Norway as Covid-19 rules end
Denmark and Norway scaled back almost all coronavirus restrictions a few weeks ago. Masks no longer have to be worn, nor is a coronavirus passport required to visit restaurants and museums. In Norway, about 87 per cent of the adult population has been vaccinated twice.
Despite the development, the Norwegian government has decided not to introduce national restrictions for the time being. However, it is prepared to bring out the tools again at any time if necessary, Health Minister Ingvild Kjerkol said on Thursday.




The city of Tromso, which has been particularly affected, on Thursday advised all citizens to keep their distance again, wear face masks and work from home.
In Denmark, 1,847 new coronavirus cases have been registered since Wednesday, and 212 people have been hospitalised for Covid-19 infection. A total of 75 per cent of Danish population is fully vaccinated.
Health Minister Magnus Heunicke planned to inform the parties in parliament about the situation. He told Danish Radio that it may become necessary to reintroduce certain restrictions.
In Sweden, the country’s chief epidemiologist, Anders Tegnell noted an increase in infections in Eastern Europe and added, “we also have a serious situation in the western parts of Europe”.
“There are some signs that this will also be a winter with extensive spread of Covid-19,” he told a press conference.
WHO tracking Covid-19 ‘Delta Plus’, now in at least 42 countries
Across the Baltic Sea, Estonia decided on Thursday to extend the use of face masks in public places for both unvaccinated as well as vaccinated people. People who fail to do so could face fines.
The Estonian government decided not to issue new drastic measures on top of the ones that took effect Monday. The northernmost Baltic nation wants to avoid a general lockdown like the one imposed by neighbouring Latvia, where nearly 90 per cent of those who died of Covid-19 last month were not vaccinated.
Latvia has entered a month-long lockdown due to its worsening coronavirus situation. It has a vaccination rate that is among the lowest in the 27-nation European Union, with only slightly over half of residents fully vaccinated.
Europe stood out as the only major region worldwide to report an increase in both coronavirus cases and deaths over the last week, with double-digit percentage increases in each.
In its weekly update on Wednesday, the WHO said that new Covid-19 cases in its 53-country European region, which stretches as far east as former Soviet republics in Central Asia, recorded an 18 per cent increase in Covid-19 cases over the last week – a fourth straight weekly increase for the area. Europe also saw a 14 per cent increase in virus-related deaths.
That amounted to more than 1.6 million new cases and over 21,000 new deaths.
Additional reporting by Associated Press


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Coronavirus pandemic

Covid-19 numbers rise again in Denmark and Norway, weeks after ending rules

People celebrating the end of Covid-19 restrictions, in Oslo, Norway in September. Cases are rising again. Photo: AP

Rowdy celebrations, brawls erupt in Norway as Covid-19 rules end

People celebrate the end of Covid-19 restrictions in Oslo on Saturday. Photo: AP

An ambulance takes care of the injured as Norway reopens from the coronavirus restrictions in Trondheim, Norway, Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. The government is easing the national regulations introduced in connection with the coronavirus pandemic. (Joakim Halvorsen/NTB via AP)

WHO tracking Covid-19 ‘Delta Plus’, now in at least 42 countries

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World

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Coronavirus


Scandinavian countries brace for winter wave after lifting restrictions
Europe had the most Covid-19 cases, deaths in the world over last week



Scandinavian countries brace for winter virus wave after lifting restrictions.


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Coronavirus vaccine

Nordic nations

Covid-19 numbers rise again in Denmark and Norway, weeks after ending rules

Scandinavian countries brace for winter wave after lifting restrictions Europe had the most Covid-19 cases, deaths in the world over last week

Scandinavian countries brace for winter wave after lifting restrictions

Europe had the most Covid-19 cases, deaths in the world over last week