Denmark becomes second country in Europe to go on coronavirus lockdown

Denmark has gone into total 14-day lockdown in other to halt the spread of coronavirus after an increase in cases. 

At a press conference on Wednesday evening, Denmark’s Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen announced that the country will close all kindergartens, schools, and universities for two weeks to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

In a press conference yesterday, Ms. Frederiksen said: ‘This will have huge consequences, but the alternative would be far worse.

‘Under normal circumstances, a government would not present such far-reaching measures without having all the solutions ready for the many Danes concerned.

‘But we are in an extraordinary situation.’

According to The Local, the Prime Minister added: ‘We will not get through this as a country without a cost. Businesses will close. Some will lose their jobs. 

‘We will do what we can to mitigate the consequences for employees.’ 

Indoor events with 100 or more participants will also be been banned as part of the tough new measures being introduced from Monday.

The decision comes after the Danish Patient Safety Authority reported 442 new cases of coronavirus on Wednesday evening, bringing the number of people in quarantine to 1,303. 

Søren Brostrøm, the director of the Danish Health Authority told local media that he expects the number of cases to increase even more rapidly in the coming days and weeks after the World Health Organisation officially declared it a pandemic.

‘It is not only a threat for Denmark, but for the whole world. That is why the WHO has today declared Covid-19 to be a pandemic’.

Denmark is the second country in Europe to impose strict lockdown measures, after Italy.