Shopping malls and stores in Denmark will be forced to close, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (S) announced. From Christmas Day until January 3, practically all retail outlets – except for grocery stores and pharmacies – will be closed.
The new orders were announced at a press conference late Wednesday afternoon and will come into effect for all shopping centers on Thursday, according to the newspapers. After Christmas Eve, they are said to expand and apply to all retail outlets in the country, with the exception of grocery stores and pharmacies.
”"We have now reached national level four throughout the country," stated Mette Frederiksen.
Until now, risk level four – which is the next highest risk level – has applied in three Danish regions.
”"We are further reducing social activity. That is why we are introducing additional restrictions now, which will apply until after the New Year. We are doing this because we will celebrate Christmas and because we are facing January and February, which the authorities expect may be the toughest during the pandemic."”
On Wednesday, expanded restrictions have already come into effect throughout Denmark, which means, among other things, that restaurants and bars must remain closed. At the press conference, it was confirmed that all shopping centers will be forced to close on Thursday and on Monday, private businesses such as hairdressers will have to close again.
”"From Friday, December 25th to January 3rd, Denmark will in practice be on lockdown," Frederiksen stated.
The number of infected people admitted to Danish hospitals has increased rapidly in recent days. In the Copenhagen region, all non-urgent treatments and surgeries have been postponed to prioritize Covid patients.
