Denmark Relax Corona Rules After Mutation Control in Mink

After combating a mutation of the dreaded coronavirus in mink, Denmark is relaxing the special corona measures in the north of the Jutland region with many mink farms.

 

Twelve people were found to be infected with the new form of the virus, but not since September 15. The Danish health authorities believe the mutation is extinct.

The easing starts earlier than planned. The restrictions would actually apply until December 4. About 280,000 inhabitants have been deprived of public transport since the beginning of November.

Furthermore, public meetings were limited, and most of the teaching took place online. Earlier this week, many students were allowed to go back to school. Residents could also leave their municipality again. From Friday, public transport will resume and restaurants and bars, as well as cultural and recreational facilities, will be reopened.

The restrictions were introduced after the discovery that a mutated form of the coronavirus had been transmitted between mink and humans. This prompted the government to have millions of minks from fur farms killed. Denmark is the world’s largest producer of mink fur.

In the meantime, Ireland is also planning the culling of all minks for fear that the animals carry a mutated virus. The coronavirus has not been diagnosed in mink in Ireland, of which about 100,000 are kept on three farms.

In Sweden, the coronavirus has been discovered in people working in the mink industry. It is being investigated whether there is a link between the infections in humans and mink. The authorities said earlier that no virus mutations had been found as in Denmark.