Denmark is reacting to the coronavirus pandemic with a drastic step. All borders will be closed from Saturday noon. At the German-Danish crossings, this should lead to long queues.
Copenhagen (dpa) - In the fight against a further spread of the corona virus, the German neighboring country Denmark closes its borders until Easter. The measure will apply as of tomorrow at 12 noon, the Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said.
This should counteract the further spread of Sars-CoV-2. The Ministry of the Interior in Kiel advised against traveling to the border region. Motorway traffic is derived in the area near the border - and returned. Because of the closure of the border, considerable traffic disruptions can be expected in the area near the border, according to a statement on Friday evening. This applies to road crossings, but also in the area of the port of Puttgarden in the course of the bird flight line.
Closing the borders means that the Danes are introducing border controls by the police and the military. According to Frederiksen, these apply up to and including Easter, i.e. until April 13. Tourists and other foreigners without a specific reason for entry would no longer come into the country. This does not apply to truck drivers who bring goods across the border, as Justice Minister Nick Hækkerup said.
Frederiksen said it would still be possible to bring groceries, medicines and other necessary goods to Denmark. Danes could return to their home country at any time. Police chief Thorkild Fogde added that it primarily concerns the Danish borders to Germany and Sweden and to a lesser extent the crossings to Norway. All neighboring countries were informed of the measure in advance, government officials said.
Denmark was one of the first countries in Europe to announce the closure of its schools and daycare centers on Wednesday evening. Previously, the number of confirmed cases of infection in the country had increased dramatically. Frederiksen spoke of 801 confirmed cases of infection on Friday evening. 23 people are in hospital, four of them in the intensive care unit. Two are in critical condition, said Frederiksen.
Treatments and operations that are not absolutely necessary should now be postponed in order to protect the healthcare system from an overload.
Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod had previously advised against all trips abroad that were not absolutely necessary. At the press conference, he said: "Danes who are abroad and live there are welcome to stay there. Danes on vacation are encouraged to come home now."