Several European countries led the way in lifting COVID-19 restrictions, Denmark being first among them. The Scandinavian country lifted restrictions and allowed certain venues to reopen on Jan. 16. Fifteen days later on Jan. 31, the Danish government relaxed further restrictions in the country of 5.8 million.
Copenhagen allowed cinemas, zoos, museums and theaters to reopen. Indoor and outdoor sporting events were likewise permitted – albeit with limits on the number of spectators. In order to visit these, Danes must mask up at all times and provide proof of vaccination or recent recovery from COVID-19.
According to Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, the lifting of the COVID-19 restrictions in Denmark was based on recommendations by the Epidemic Commission. She added that her cabinet "intends to follow the recommendations" of the commission – which serves as Copenhagen's expert advisory panel on the pandemic. (Related: Welcome to the life we knew before: Denmark is abolishing ALL COVID-19 restrictions.)
The United Kingdom followed suit, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson accelerating the relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions. Under the original plan, current restrictions in the entire U.K. would be lifted by March 24. But according to the Guardian, Johnson moved this a month earlier to Feb. 24.
Johnson claimed that "the hard work of the British people is paying off." Should "the current encouraging trends in the data continue," Johnson reiterated that all domestic COVID-19 measures – including mandatory quarantine after a positive test result – would immediately be ended. However, travel restrictions such as quarantine for the unvaccinated and passenger locator forms would not be rescinded, the Guardian added.
Health officials warn against premature lifting of restrictions
While governments are lifting restrictions on citizens weary of lockdowns, health experts are advising against the move. They warned that the threat of COVID-19 and its variants still looms, saying that governments appear to be rushing toward what they see as a finish line for the pandemic – but is actually not.
World Health Organization (WHO) Chief Scientist Dr. Soumya Swaminathan told Emma Barnett of Bloomberg Quicktake during a Jan. 27 interview that dropping all coronavirus restrictions currently in place is a "foolish" move.
"It would be foolish to drop all precautions that we've been taking all this time. We need to continue that and hopefully by 2022, we'll be in a much better position," said the WHO chief scientist.
Swaminathan also chided governments claiming that the pandemic is nearing its end. "I don't think anybody can predict that. Let's not declare the pandemic over as some people are doing now. A variant can arise anywhere and you're back to square one. We still need to be cautious."
However, leaders with any plans of extending COVID-19 restrictions would have a hard time convincing citizens that these are beneficial. Many have suffered economic damage ever since lockdowns were implemented. Small businesses were forced to close, workers were laid off from their jobs and governments were forced to borrow massive amounts just to keep themselves afloat.
The impact of lockdowns and other COVID-19 restrictions also went beyond the economic aspect. These measures have fueled protests against government tyranny, such as the anti-vaccine pass demonstration in France and the Freedom Convoy protest in Canada.
More related stories:
WHO reverses course, again: Lockdowns as primary response to COVID-19 now said to be "damaging."
EU pushes for extending vaccine passports as many countries start relaxing restrictions.
12 European countries roll back covid restrictions, Israel scraps "green pass."
End of COVID-19 tyranny: European countries move to ease pandemic rules.
Watch Jeffery Jaxen and Del Bigtree talk about European countries relaxing their COVID-19 measures.
This video is from The HighWire with Del Bigtree channel on Brighteon.com.
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