General

National Round-Up: Non-Westerners over-represented in Denmark’s coronavirus cases

Meanwhile, unemployment and organ donations see significant increases … and politicians’ credibility a more modest one

Luke Roberts

Over a quarter of those recorded as having been infected with the coronavirus in Denmark have a non-Western background, according to the Statens Serum Institut. This report comes despite the fact they make up less than 10 percent of the Danish population as a whole.

Greater risk 
The report describes the fact that those from non-Western backgrounds “are to a greater extent employed in industries or live in housing conditions” that put them in a heightened risk category.

As a result of this increased risk, the proportion of people from these backgrounds who have been tested is significantly higher than for most groups. In part, this may also explain why a greater number of cases are discovered and recorded.

Unemployment soars 
On October 1, 6,700 people registered as unemployed in Denmark – 2,500 more than in a normal year, and the highest daily increase since July 1. Unemployment had been on the decline since July, but economist Anders Christian Overvad warns “the Danish economy is in a very fragile time, and if we look ahead, we unfortunately expect that unemployment will start to rise again”.

Life after death 
Since the start of the year, 104 deceased Danes have donated their organs to those in need – a 33 percent increase on the same period last year. It continues the positive trend seen in the country over the last decade, with the Danish Center for Organ Donation again calling for people to consider the option through their Organ Donation Day this coming Saturday.

“Politicians better, but still the worst” says public 
Pollsters at Radius CPH have recorded the highest credibility score for politicians in nine years – an increase driven largely by the increased visibility of the government during the coronavirus pandemic. Despite this, it remains the profession with the lowest credibility.

Climate inaction?
A new survey carried out by Megafon has found that 45 percent of those in Denmark – particularly its youth – believe the government is currently not doing enough to tackle environmental issues. Meanwhile, 14 percent believe the government is doing too much. According to TV2, when Parliament opens later today it will oversee the launching of 10 billion kroner’s worth of new environmental initiatives.

 

 

TOP STORIES

  • Bestselling author of ‘The Year of Living Danishly’ Helen Russell on why she moved back to the UK after 12 years

    Bestselling author of ‘The Year of Living Danishly’ Helen Russell on why she moved back to the UK after 12 years

    After more than a decade living in Denmark, Russell shares why she made the move, how she’s coping, what she already misses, and the exciting new projects she’s working on. “It’s been a very tough decision. I love Denmark, and it will always hold a special place in my heart,” she says.

  • Denmark launches first AI supercomputer

    Denmark launches first AI supercomputer

    The new Gefion AI supercomputer is one of the world’s fastest and will accelerate research and provide new opportunities in Danish academia and industry.

  • Navigating big love, big moves and big feelings

    Navigating big love, big moves and big feelings

    Experts believe it takes seven years to move into a new culture, according to leading Danish psychologist Jette Simon and therapist Vibeke Hartkorn. For expat couples, the challenges of starting a new life together in Denmark can put pressure on relationships, but emotions-focused therapy can help.

  • More and more Danes are working after retirement age

    More and more Danes are working after retirement age

    Politicians debate a lot these days about when you can retire. The reality shows that an increasing number of Danes like to work, even if they can withdraw from the labor market. Financial incentives help.

  • Environmental activist fears death in prison if extradited to Japan

    Environmental activist fears death in prison if extradited to Japan

    Canadian-born environmental activist Paul Watson has been in prison in Greenland for almost 100 days awaiting an extradition decision for a 14-year-old offence against a Japanese whaling vessel that he calls a “minor misdemeanor”. The 73-year-old had previously passed through Ireland, Switzerland, Monaco, France and the USA without trouble, before Greenlandic police arrested him in July.

  • Denmark too slow to ease recruitment rules for non-EU service workers, say industry associations

    Denmark too slow to ease recruitment rules for non-EU service workers, say industry associations

    When the Danish government in January presented the first of its schemes to make it easier to recruit foreign labour from outside the EU, it was hailed by the healthcare and service sectors as a timely and important policy shift. But while healthcare changes have been forthcoming, the service sector is still struggling, say the directors of the industry association Dansk Industri and one of the country’s largest private employers ISS.

Connect club

Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.

Sign up here

Career

  • Come and join us at Citizens Days!

    Come and join us at Citizens Days!

    On Friday 27 and Saturday 28 of September, The Copenhagen Post will be at International Citizen Days in Øksnehallen on Vesterbro, Copenhagen. Admission is free and thousands of internationals are expected to attend

  • Diversifying the Nordics: How a Nigerian economist became a beacon for inclusivity in Scandinavia

    Diversifying the Nordics: How a Nigerian economist became a beacon for inclusivity in Scandinavia

    Chisom Udeze, the founder of Diversify – a global organization that works at the intersection of inclusion, democracy, freedom, climate sustainability, justice, and belonging – shares how struggling to find a community in Norway motivated her to build a Nordic-wide professional network. We also hear from Dr. Poornima Luthra, Associate Professor at CBS, about how to address bias in the workplace.

  • Lolland Municipality launches support package for accompanying spouses

    Lolland Municipality launches support package for accompanying spouses

    Lolland Municipality, home to Denmark’s largest infrastructure project – the Fehmarnbelt tunnel connection to Germany – has launched a new jobseeker support package for the accompanying partners of international employees in the area. The job-to-partner package offers free tailored sessions on finding a job and starting a personal business.

Want to advertise your job with CPH Post?

Contact us

Jobs