Corona success in neighboring country: high incidence, but hardly any deaths - lessons for Germany?

While new infections are increasing across Europe, Denmark is looking to the developments of the corona pandemic quite relaxed - and is planning further easing.

Copenhagen - The delta variant of the coronavirus has been on the advance in Europe for a long time and could cause a new wave of the pandemic in many places despite the currently comparatively low number of new infections.

While Germany is already aligning itself against a possible worsening of the infection situation in autumn and has decided on a general test obligation for non-vaccinated return travelers, a neighboring German country in particular is confident in the fight against the virus.

Coronavirus in Denmark: positive mood despite high incidence

In Denmark, an increasing number of new infections with the coronavirus has been registered for weeks, but a completely different picture emerges when looking at the country's intensive care units. On Friday, the American Johns Hopkins University registered 1085 new infections nationwide. A month earlier, only 340 cases were registered within one day. The 7-day incidence thus rises to a value of 97. For comparison: In Germany, the incidence on Saturday was 16.9.

But despite the significant increase in the number of cases, the situation in the intensive care units is calm.

As the Danish Ministry of Health reports, there are currently only 57 people in hospital across the country because of a corona infection.

Of these, in turn, only ten people have to be treated in the intensive care unit - five patients are artificially ventilated.

In addition, the number of fatal Covid courses in Denmark remains very low.

The 7-day average has been at a consistently low level since March and is currently 1.

Coronavirus in Denmark: Success in vaccination campaign as key?

In addition to the fact that the country is rather sparsely populated, the reason for the comparatively relaxed situation in Denmark may also be the government's vaccination campaign, which was noticeably successful. According to the Ministry of Health, 60 percent of those over 16 are already fully vaccinated. According to the statistics portal Our World in Data, over 72 percent have received at least one vaccination. In both cases Denmark is ahead of Germany, where 61 percent of the population have received at least one vaccination.

However, these quotas do not give the all-clear for Denmark. "We have to ensure that 85 percent of the population are fully vaccinated against Corona before autumn," warns the epidemiologist Viggo Andreasen from the University of Roskilde to the portal

“There cannot be complete herd immunity to the Delta variant - it is so contagious.

But we will be able to prevent larger epidemics, ”predicts the scientist when the required vaccination rate is achieved.

Coronavirus in Denmark: Despite rising incidence - mask requirement should finally fall

The Danish government is meanwhile planning further easing for the coming months. After Denmark, like most European countries, went into a lockdown last winter, the country was one of the first nations to lift the restrictions. Despite the delta variant, the government now wants to relax further. The mask requirement, which already only applies in public transport, is to be abolished in September. In October, the proof in the sense of the 3G rule (vaccinated, tested, recovered) for restaurants, cinemas and theaters will no longer apply - provided the situation in Denmark remains relatively relaxed.