Denmark to ease travel restrictions
An agreement has been reached to lift travel restrictions in phases.
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The Danish government and political parties have reached an agreement to ease COVID travel restrictions. Travel restrictions will be lifted in four phases beginning with phase one on Wednesday of next week.
The agreement specified that the infections situation, especially to do with variants of concern, could result in changes or outright postponing of the lifting of travel restrictions.
One of the major changes is to abolish the current system with every country outside of Denmark being classified as a COVID ‘red zone.’
Foreign Affairs Minister Jeppe Kofod.
“Now the completely red world map is over. The weekly travel guides from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs return. It is an important step towards gradually and safely being able to open up for holiday and pleasure travel again. At the same time, it is crucial that we proceed cautiously and sensibly. Denmark is in a good place. We must not risk a setback now. Therefore, we must take into account that the infection is increasing in several places in Europe and the risk of new mutations. Finally, we also make it easier for the Danish business community to make necessary trips around the world for the benefit of Danish exports.”
Phase One - April 21st
Classifying all countries outside of Denmark as COVID ‘red’ zones ends. A yellow, orange, and red colour coded infection threat system will replace it. Things like the infection incidence rate, testing numbers, positivity percentage, and for ‘red zone’ country’s the threat of corona variants will all factor in to determine a country’s risk designation.
Requirements for mandatory testing and isolation entering Denmark will remain in place except for travelers from ‘yellow’ countries and regions who will be exempt.
Business travelers will have restrictions eased allowing them to go to work after returning from a business trip abroad.
People in Denmark who have remote cabins and summer-houses in other Nordic countries can return home without having to isolate.
The list of recognizable purposes required to enter the country will be expanded to include, among other things, high school and after-school students, exchange students, agricultural trainees, spouses, permanent cohabitants or children of a Dane who lives abroad and travels together, holiday home owners, boat owners, or people who have a permanent residence in Denmark.
Students going to school in Denmark from border countries will no longer have to isolate when they enter the country.
Phase Two - May 1st
Completely vaccinated Danes and foreigners, including tourists, from yellow and orange EU and Schengen countries can travel in and out of Denmark without the requirement for testing and isolation after entry. This will not apply to fully vaccinated travelers from countries designated as a COVID ‘red zone’ due to the infection/variant risk.
The requirement to present a negative COVID test no more than 24 hours old when entering Denmark is relaxed, instead a negative test no more than 48 hours old will be required.
Phase Three - target date May 14th.
(When everyone who wants a vaccine over the age of 50 have had a first dose)
The requirement for recognizable purposes to enter Denmark will be abolished for travelers from ‘orange’ countries within the E.U. And Schengen countries. This means tourists from a country designated as an ‘orange’ COVID risk can enter Denmark freely albeit with requirements for testing and isolation unless they are vaccinated or have been infected and recovered.
People, including tourists crossing by land into Denmark from border countries are exempted from having to isolate.
Phase 4 - target date - June 26th
(When an E.U. corona passport arrives)
With an E.U. corona passport showing proof of vaccination, a negative test, or recent recovery from infection people from Denmark can holiday abroad and tourists can come to Denmark. Finite details are still being worked out with the E.U.
Even with a corona passport travelers from ‘orange’ countries will still have mandatory coronavirus testing on arrival.
People who choose to travel without a corona passport will face “travel restrictions and infection prevention measures.” More clarity on this front will come later.
Travel to countries outside the European Union will be governed by the common E.U. framework. Currently the E.U. designates very few countries as being open to travel to and from. Danish authorities are hoping to see this framework renegotiated before summer holidays to ease travel restrictions at the E.U. level.
The Danish government and political parties will meet one week before each phase to assess the pandemic situation in Denmark and around the world as well as vaccination progress and see if any changes and adjustments are needed or if the easing of travel restrictions needs to be postponed.
Another issue within the agreement is to set up infrastructure at Denmark’s airports to handle an expected increase in COVID testing that will come hand in hand with the arrival of more and more travelers. A fast-working inter-ministerial working group with participation from the airports will be struck to table recommendations by the end of the month.
This also applies on land borders where it is proposed that random checks backed up with fines is put in place to ensure both a smooth flow of traffic and that travelers are abiding by the rules.
Another sticky issue needing ironing out is how to deal with children, who currently cannot be vaccinated, but who are traveling with parents who are. The agreement struck today simply says that “professional and practical issues” need clarifying to address the matter in order to help facilitate travel to Denmark by more and more people.
You can read the whole agreement in Danish HERE