Denmark’s Ministry of Health has decided to withdraw the “temporary stricter entry requirements” introduced on Dec. 27, following a massive wave of COVID-19 infections.
The restrictions that will be gradually lifted from Feb. 1, include pre-departure testing and the restrictions imposed on cruise tourism.
“The temporary stricter requirements for pre-entry testing, introduced on December 27, are now being phased out. The previous general entry restrictions that were in force before the introduction of the tightened temporary entry restrictions will continue from Tuesday, February 1 and provisionally until February 28, 2022,” said the Ministry in a press release.
The move means that Denmark will allow entry to the country everyone who has valid proof of vaccination as well as those who have recently recovered from the virus.
Regarding vaccinations, the government also expanded its list of approved vaccines to include Covishield, Covaxin, Sinovac and Sinopharm, which will be joining the already approved Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Janssen and Novavax.
It puts an end to the condition for citizens to be permanent residents of an EU/Schengen country or an OECD country for their vaccine brands to be recognized.
Finally, passengers coming on cruise ships will be subject to the same laws as those arriving by air or on land.
“We are saying farewell to the restrictions and welcome to life as we knew it before corona,” Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told reporters on Wednesday.
According to the Minister, their successful vaccine program “has given [them] a solid defense against the infection.”
“That’s why the government decided that coronavirus should no longer be considered a threatening disease for society.”
That means Denmark is removing not only its entry restrictions but also its domestic ones, such as mask-wearing and bar and restaurant COVID curbs.
Travelers from Bahrain, Chile, Colombia, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Kuwait, New Zealand, Peru, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and Uruguay who arrive in Denmark without valid proof of vaccination or recovery must present a negative COVID-19 test taken within the last 24 hours
Unvaccinated arrivals from other nations must also present a negative COVID-19 test taken within the last 24 hours and undergo a 7-day quarantine.