COVID-19 pandemic cost the state huge sums of money

From compensation to health sector expenses, the pandemic sucked over almost 120 billion kroner out of the state coffers

Christian Wenande

Oct 3, 2022

There is little doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic has had significant health-related consequences in Denmark.

But according to new figures from Danmarks Statistik, the financial ramifications have also been considerable.

The figures revealed that the state coughed up 119.8 billion kroner on pandemic-related expenses between the first quarter of 2020 and the end of the first quarter of 2022.

The lion’s share of the expenses (81.5 billion kroner) were paid out as compensation, while the health sector expenses also made up a sizeable amount (33.7 billion kroner).

Testing, gear and treatment
COVID-19 testing efforts accounted for over half of the health sector costs (17.8 billion), while the vaccine program set the state coffers back 6.4 billion.

Finally, protection gear cost the health sector 5.5 billion and the treatment of COVID-19 patients also made an indent to the tune of 1.7 billion.

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