Health minister: Second wave could hit in the autumn

Elsewhere, another two Danes have died, while respirators are being collected from animal clinics and private hospitals

Mar 19, 2020

The government is working with the premise that the first wave of the coronavirus will be over this summer and that a second wave will hit in the autumn.

The health minister, Magnus Heunicke, stated that the second wave could lead to a number of the same initiatives that the Danes are currently experiencing.

However, the minister did say that the Danish heath system will be better prepared and experienced in dealing with the virus – such has having more respirators and more people being immune.

Vaccine wait
Heunicke also underlined that there is a chance that a vaccine will be ready at that time, although it may be optimistic to believe that it will be ready by the autumn.

“It’ll probably be ready by the end of the second wave, which is about a year from now,” Heunicke said, according to TV2 News.

Another factor that would affect the spread of the virus is the weather as it may struggle in warmer weather.

The health authority Sundhedsstyrelsen has planned for two scenarios. One with the virus being impacted by warmer weather and one when it does not.

Another two dead
According to a new press release by the State Serum Institute, two more Danes have died from the coronavirus, bringing the fatality count up to six.

1,132 Danes have now contracted the virus, up from 1,055 yesterday. The Faroe Islands also saw an increase, up from the 40s to 72.

The stats also showed that 12 children under the age of 10 have been contracted the coronavirus since the crisis started.

Three of the kids have been hospitalised, but none have had a serious infection.

Most of those who have contracted the virus are aged between 20 and 60.

May 1 gathering cancelled
According to LO Hovedstaden, the annual May 1 gathering in Fælledparken in Copenhagen has been cancelled this year due to the coronavirus crisis.

LO Hovedstaden wrote in a press release that they hoped to be able to hold a more modest kind of party on the day, should the government approve at that time.

If not, the occasion will be marked by a smaller symbolic event on social media.

Animal clinics give up respirators
In a bid to secure as many respirators as possible during the coronavirus outbreak, the health authority is reaching out to the nation’s animal clinics.

The Danish veterinary association expects to be able to contribute with 90 respirators to help treat coronavirus patients.

Aside from the animal clinics, the Defence and private hospitals have also been asked to contribute respirators.

Restaurants get takeaway option
The food minister Mogens Jensen has given the green light for restaurants that didn’t have the option of delivering takeaway food, to do so from today without reporting it to the food authority Fødevarestyrelsen.

The restaurant sector has been hit hard by the coronavirus crisis and were forced to close for sit-in customers earlier this week thanks to the government’s ban on congregations of over 10 people.

The new takeaway initiative is temporary and will last until the coronavirus situation is more clear.