PANDEMIC

Denmark to lift almost all coronavirus restrictions from February

The Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen. Photo: Thierry Roge/dpa.

From 1 February, Danes will no longer have to wear masks or show proof of vaccination in most places

Denmark plans to lift almost all coronavirus restrictions next week despite record infection levels, the country's prime minister announced Wednesday.

From 1 February, Danes will no longer have to wear masks or show proof of vaccination in most places.

The government of premier Mette Frederiksen is following the instructions of the country's disease control commission, which recommended emergency measures to combat the pandemic be phased out.

Frederiksen called the move a milestone.

"We are saying goodbye to restrictions and hello to the life we knew before coronavirus," she said.

High vaccination coverage in has proven to be a "super weapon," she said.

In Denmark, more than 80 per cent of the entire population are vaccinated.

Half of Danes have already received a booster.

Arrivals to the country

Mandatory testing will remain in place for some arrivals to the country. Testing and other precautions will not be mandatory but still recommended.

The step means clubs can reopen as normal from February and big events can go ahead.

Despite high infection numbers, the now-dominant Omicron variant is causing less severe cases in Denmark, with the number of patients in intensive care units and on ventilators at a relatively low level.

Denmark has been setting new records for infection numbers for days. On Wednesday, the country counted 46,747 new cases.

Denmark's disease control institute Statens Serum Institut said the number of severe cases was declining.