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Although much of Europe is getting pounded by COVID-19, the impacts are not uniform across the Continent (see ECDC map above), with some countries far less affected than others. In recent days the UK, The Netherlands, and Germany have all announced stricter lockdowns over the holidays.
Most retail establishments (other than grocery stores/supermarkets, pharmacies, and medical supply vendors) have bee order closed starting today (Dec 17th). Most schools are closed, or closing, and social distancing and bans on large crowds remain in place.Yesterday Denmark joined suit, after reporting a significant increase in both cases of infection and positive percentages.
COVID-19 shutdown over Christmas and New Year
16-12-2020
PRESS RELEASE - The infection with COVID-19 is increasing throughout the country. On the recommendation of the Task Force, including the health authorities, the government will introduce further national measures towards and over Christmas and New Year to reduce activity in society and reduce infection with COVID-19. Together with the existing initiatives, there is a total closure over Christmas and New Year.
In the past week, there has been a significant increase in both cases of infection and positive percentages. In a new risk assessment, the risk level in the whole country is raised to 4 out of 5. Against this background, the Action Group, including the health authorities, has recommended further measures.
Ahead of and over Christmas and New Year, therefore, a number of new measures will be introduced - in addition to the already existing national measures and intensified measures - with a view to breaking the chains of infection and maintaining control of the epidemic.
Before Christmas, a number of new restrictions will be introduced for the retail and service industries. Shopping malls, department stores, arcades and bazaars will be closed from 17 December 2020 until and including 3 January 2021. Specialty stores, such as DIY stores, housing stores, etc., which are 5000 m2 or more, will also close from 17 December 2020 until and with January 3, 2021.
In addition, liberal service professions where the necessary infection-preventing distance cannot be secured, including hairdressers, masseurs, tattooists, driving schools, etc., will close from Monday 21 December 2020 to 3 January 2021.
After Christmas, a further shutdown will be launched. From 25 December 2020, all department stores, including stores under 5000 m2, will close.
However, grocery stores / supermarkets, pharmacies and stores with medical equipment will continue to be open throughout the period.
Stores can continue to deliver packages that are pre-ordered and prepaid by e-commerce, including fireworks.
In addition, students in 0.-4. classes that have not already gone on Christmas vacation, including SFO and club offers, will be sent home from 21 December to 3 January 2021, just as students at e.g. continuation schools, boarding schools and folk high schools are sent home. However, there will be the possibility of emergency care.Other national initiatives continue to apply up to and including 28 February 2021, including recommendations on limiting social contact, assembly bans and demands and calls for the use of bandages and visors, etc. In addition, a number of intensified measures continue to apply until and including 3 January 2021.
The $64 question heading into the holidays is how much - if any - impact the newly discovered strain of COVID-19 circulating in the south of England will have on the course of the pandemic (see COG-UK: Brief Update & Expert Reaction On The New SARS-CoV-2 Variant In Southern England).
For now, the answer is it is too soon to tell.
For now, there is no evidence that this new strain is any more virulent in humans than previous strains, or that it will evade the current vaccine.
The emergence of this new variant has been temporally and spatially linked to a recent spike in cases in the UK - suggesting it may be more transmissible - but causality has not been established.
Today we learn from Denmark's SSI that this variant has been detected in a handful of cases in that country, and that the Institut is closely following this new strain, and would not be surprised if additional variant emerge in the months ahead.
New covid virus strain in England
The strain has also been detected in 9 cases in Denmark. However, there is no evidence that it is more serious than other covid virus strains.
Last edited on December 16, 2020
In England, a new covid virus strain has been detected. The tribe, which has been given the name N501Y, has until December 13 been found among 1,108 people. Primarily in the south and east of England.
The strain has 9 genetic changes in the Spike protein. These are 2 so-called deletions and 7 mutations. Therefore, there have been considerations as to whether viruses of this strain may be more contagious, cause more serious disease and / or be more resistant to antibodies and vaccines than other strains.
However, there is no evidence that this strain is more severe than other COVID strains.
N501Y cases in Denmark
In Denmark, between 14 November and 3 December, 9 cases of N501Y were detected. Of which 6 in Greater Copenhagen and 3 in North Jutland at the same address.
The infected are from 2 to 61 years old, on average 35 years old. There are 7 women and 2 men. It is being investigated right now how these individuals are related and the N501Y virus strain is being followed very closely.
Monitoring of virus strains in Denmark
The number of positive virus samples in Denmark that are sequenced and thus type-determined has been expanded over the last month. The capacity is now up to a maximum of 5,000 per. week, corresponding to approximately 25% of the current number of positive samples.
This is very high in an international context. In the UK, which is a leader in the field and has a high capacity in Europe, approximately 10% of the tribes are sequenced.
In Denmark, sequencing is actively used to uncover infection chains in the event of an outbreak, to follow the occurrence of special virus strains such as the mink variants in Jutland, and to uncover whether some variants appear to spread more than others or are more serious.
It is very important to be able to detect and follow new virus strains in the future. Especially when you start vaccinating, the risk increases that new mutations will occur that will be able to dodge vaccines. In Denmark, we have really good opportunities to follow this closely.
