Denmark lowers COVID threat, citing vaccinations – KIRO 7 News Seattle

COVID-19 will no longer consider COVID-19 to be “a socially critical disease in Denmark”, citing the large number of vaccinations in the Scandinavian country.

“The epidemic is under control. We have record high vaccination rates, ”Health Minister Magnus Heunicke said in a statement on Friday.

As of September 10, “we can drop some of the special rules we had to introduce in the fight against COVID-19,” he said.

In practice, this means that the compulsory vaccination card will be partially abolished for some major events such as concerts and nightclubs. On July 1, Denmark introduced a digital coronavirus passport that had to be shown if required.

“Although we are at a good point, we are not out of the epidemic yet. And the government will not hesitate to act quickly if the pandemic once again threatens important functions in our society, ”he added.

On Thursday, Heunicke said that 80% of all people over 12 years of age in Denmark are vaccinated. Admission to Denmark is voluntary and is open to people aged 12 and over.

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MORE ABOUT PANDEMIC:

– New Zealand is working hard to stop the virus outbreak

– COVID-19 surge beats up Hawaii and its indigenous people

– More US states have record hospital admissions, increasing numbers of children

– Music industry weighs vaccination mandates, but politics collides

– Models predict 100,000 more COVID-19 deaths unless the US changes ways

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– For more AP coverage, please visit https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine

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WHAT ELSE HAPPENS:

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – Sri Lanka has extended its current lockdown to September 6 as COVID-19 cases continue to rise due to the rapid spread of the Delta variant across the island nation.

The current 10-day lockdown should end on Monday. Sri Lankan health officials and doctors have complained that the lockdown has not been effective as many people move freely on the streets and shops remain open.

Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said Friday the lockdown had been extended because people had not adequately adhered to the restrictions.

Sri Lanka is experiencing an unprecedented virus surge, with over 407,000 confirmed cases and 7,948 confirmed deaths on Thursday. Doctors and unions warn that hospitals and morgues are reaching their maximum capacity.

Under Sri Lanka’s quarantine laws, those violating quarantine rules could face a fine of LKR 10,000 ($ 54), six months in jail, or both.

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HONOLULU – As Hawaii struggles with spikes in COVID-19 cases, high hospital admissions, and stagnating vaccination rates, a public service announcement campaign commemorates a disease outbreak in the 19th century.

The campaign reminds Hawaiians that when Hawaii was a kingdom, its rulers in the 1850s urged people to get vaccinated against smallpox. The state’s indigenous people are being hit hard by the virus.

Hawaii was once considered a beacon of safety during the pandemic due to strict travel and quarantine restrictions and the general acceptance of vaccines that made it one of the most heavily vaccinated states in the country.

But the highly contagious Delta variant took advantage of weaknesses when residents, after months of restrictions, relaxed their vigilance and attended family get-togethers.

Some Hawaiians say distrust of the government due to the US-backed overthrow of the monarchy in 1893 is a big reason vaccination rates have lagged.

A group of corporations and nonprofits launched the public service campaign Thursday, which aims to reduce vaccine reluctance among indigenous Hawaiians.

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WELLINGTON, New Zealand – The New Zealand government extended a strict nationwide lockdown until Tuesday to contain the first coronavirus outbreak in six months.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Friday the government was expecting Auckland, where most of the cases have been found, to be completely sealed off for at least two more weeks. However, she expects most other parts of the country to be able to ease restrictions slightly as of Wednesday.

The announcement came when health officials reported 70 new daily cases, most in the outbreak, which has grown to nearly 350 cases in total. Ardern said there was evidence that the lockdown was working and new case numbers were starting to level off. She said she remains committed to the strategy of eliminating the virus completely.

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LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas area man won the $ 1 million grand prize Thursday to cap an eight-week coronavirus vaccination jackpot program.

Nevada’s Governor Steve Sisolak launched the program to increase excitement about COVID-19 vaccinations.

The winners were introduced by their first name and last letter at a live event hosted by the Governor at the Las Vegas Convention Center and aides at the Riverside Gallery of the Sierra Arts Foundation in Reno.

The program, called Vax Nevada Days, kicked off June 17 with $ 5 million in federal coronavirus aid. State health data showed that the percentage of citizens vaccinated rose about 10% between the prize pool announcement in mid-June and its end on Thursday.

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BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – A federal prosecutor accuses Argentine President Alberto Fernández of apparently violating his own pandemic restriction decree by joining a dozen other people at his wife’s birthday party.

Prosecutor Ramiro González’s action means that Fernández could be under criminal investigation.

The party took place at the president’s residence last year when the government banned social gatherings to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Investigators began investigating the case when a photo was circulated this month of Fernández with his wife Fabiola Yáñez and other unmasked people standing around a table with remains of a party.

The government admitted the photo was taken on July 14, 2020, at a time when restrictions were in place. The President apologized publicly.

While the president does not run the risk of jail for such an offense, it damaged his image ahead of the November general election.

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BOISE, Idaho – Idaho hospital facilities and public health agencies seek additional capacity as coronavirus cases continue to rise across the country. But many citizens do not seem to feel the same urgency.

Volunteers are helping with contract tracking at the Central District Department of Health, and health education classrooms are being converted into COVID-19 treatment units in northern Idaho.

On Thursday, some Idaho hospitals narrowly avoided asking the state to introduce “crisis care standards” – which allocate scarce health care resources to patients who are most likely to benefit – thanks in part to nationwide coordination.

Meanwhile, unmasked spectators sat shoulder to shoulder in the show arena at the Western Idaho Fair this week as children maneuvered cattle around the ring. In the West Ada School District, Idaho’s largest school district, 21% of students officially “de-registered” before the first day of school ended Thursday.

“Our prognosis is bad, to put it bluntly,” said Dr. Frank Johnson, vice president of medical affairs for St. Luke’s Health System.

Coronavirus-related hospital admissions have doubled every two weeks since July 24, he said.

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