National Post (National Edition)
Danish families get green light to hug and kiss again
EUROPEAN NATIONS EASING UP RESTRICTIONS
Grandparents were given the all-clear to see, hug and even kiss their grandchildren by Denmark’s Health Authority Monday in new national guidelines for people most at risk from coronavirus.
The advice also increased the age of people classified as “at risk” from 65 to 70. It states: “You can of course give hugs to those closest to you, for example your partner, children and grandchildren.
“But avoid handshakes, hugs and kisses on the cheek with anyone apart from those closest to you.”
The new Danish advice was published as countries across Europe began easing some of the stringent lockdown measures that have changed everyday life on the continent.
Grandparents embraced their grandchildren Monday as a loosening of the lockdown in Italy, the worst-hit country in Europe, allowed relatives to meet for the first time in two months. Public parks were reopened and people were allowed to run, cycle and walk outside for the first time in eight weeks.
In San Donato Milanese, near Milan, Melia Famoso and her husband Giovanni hugged their three grandchildren after almost two months apart.
The Danish guidelines were changed to better balance the risk of infection from COVID-19 with the long-term dangers to mental and physical health that come with continued isolation, European news website The Local reported.
“Of course, we recommend that people who are at increased risk remain aware and still look after themselves,” said Camilla Rathcke, who helped revise the government advice.
“But we also recommend that you try to find a small group of people you can meet,” she told the Danish state broadcaster.
Fit and healthy people should not isolate themselves just because they fall into a high-risk category, such as those with heart and lung disease or reduced immune systems, she said.
Rathcke said, “It is neither good nor necessary to isolate yourself in the long term. We have seen a tendency for some people to shield themselves almost a bit too much. Perhaps so much that they have become lonely and sad through sitting at home by themselves.”
Denmark was one of the first countries in Europe to go into lockdown and was the first country outside of Asia to begin easing its lockdown measures.
It was the first country in Europe to reopen its schools and nurseries. They reopened on April 15 with social distancing measures for children up to the age of 12. Hairdressers and small businesses opened five days later. Denmark’s government will not decide which other restrictions could be lifted until “very close” to May 10, Mette Frederiksen, the prime minister, said on Sunday.
The second phase of easing the Danish lockdown could include reopening shopping centres, cafés and restaurants and schools to pupils above the age of 12.
Last week, the government in Copenhagen said the spread of COVID-19 had not accelerated since the loosening of the restrictions.
The “R rate”, which shows the average number of infections one person with the virus causes, has increased slightly in the past two weeks but remains below one, it said. Infection rates had increased from 0.6 to 0.9 since schools reopened.
Countries want their “R rate” to be below 1.0 — meaning each infected person transmits the virus to less than one other — before loosening their lockdowns.
Denmark has recorded 484 deaths from 9,670 confirmed infections. Its close neighbour Sweden, which never closed its schools for under-16s or entered lockdown, has announced 2,769 deaths and 22,721 cases.
Germany also plans a partial reopening of its schools this week. First, 11- and 17-year-olds who are set to take their final exams will go back this weekend in parts of Germany, although other regions of the country have set a later return date.
France will begin a staggered reopening of schools from May 11, beginning with nurseries and primary schools.
Spaniards were allowed to leave their homes to exercise for the first time since March 14. Spanish schools, as in Italy, will not open before September.
In Belgium, restrictions were slightly eased yesterday but schools are expected to start reopening from May 18. Dutch primary schools will open on May 11 with secondary schools to begin a gradual return from June 2.
In Greece, final-year students will return from May 11 before all over-13s return the week after. June 1 has been suggested as a possible return date for primary school pupils.