In recent weeks, Denmark has seen a rise in coronavirus infections (DK), and the trend is accelerating. On Wednesday, 112 new cases were registered. That is the largest number since May 7. The increase has come particularly in two areas. Some 42 of the new cases occurred in Aarhus, Denmark’s second-largest city, and most of them arose among the city’s Somalian population. Several bus drivers were also found to be infected (DK), and hundreds of passengers may have been exposed to them. A large crowd gathered to celebrate the local soccer team’s bronze medal, but thus far no significant number of infections has been traced to it.

Aarhus soccer fans celebrating. Photo: Mikkel Berg Pedersen, Ritzau Scanpix.

The other hotspot is the Danish Crown slaughterhouse in Ringsted, a smaller city on the island of Sjælland. In the past week, the municipality has had an infection rate of 178 per 100,000 inhabitants, in comparison with 10 in Copenhagen and 40 in Aarhus. 

No jump in fatalities
The number of infections had averaged below 30 for most of July. Since July 27, it has been generally above 60. Despite the rise in cases, the number of hospitalizations and deaths has hardly increased. Yesterday, there were 23 patients hospitalized, 2 in ICUs, and a total of 616 had died. There may be a lag between the increase in infections and a rise in hospitalizations and deaths. Officials have warned previously that there is a risk of a second wave in September, after people have returned from summer vacation.

Phase 4 reopening questioned
The new wave comes at a time when the country has planned to increase the limit on gatherings (DK) from 100 to 200. The transition to phase 4 of the reopening is scheduled to take place on Saturday, but some health officials are warning that it should be postponed. Minister of Health Magnus Heunicke and Kåre Mølbak of SSI, the agency for preparedness against infectious diseases, are against opening concert halls and night clubs now.

Kirsten Normann Andersen, health spokesperson of the Socialist People’s Party, believes it is very risky to allow large gatherings that can result in superspreader events. Many Members of Parliament are on vacation now, and some representatives of the Opposition say that the prime minister and the administration should be taking action. The next meeting on the reopening is not scheduled to take place until August 12, after the increase in the ceiling will have taken effect.

Return to restrictions possible
There are also discussions about returning to lockdown conditions (DK) in several areas that have opened up. The most likely venues to be closed are sports stadiums and fitness centers. The likelihood of postponing the opening of schools and universities and of closing day-care centers is lower, as is the closing of restaurants, shopping centers and foreign borders. 

The outbreak in Aarhus
The municipality of Aarhus has already closed nursing homes for visits (DK), and the mayor and the police have warned that they will implement further restrictions if necessary. Pia Kjærsgaard (DK), the founder of the Danish People’s Party, called for restrictions to be placed on the city’s districts with large Somali populations: “We must close the ghettoes, where the great majority of them live, for a period.” She speculated that the Somalis did not follow the news or understand the precautions that everyone is supposed to observe: “It doesn’t help if you sit and watch foreign TV when you should be informed of what is happening in the country where you live.”

Abdirahman M. Iidle (DK), the spokesperson for AarhuSomali, an association of Somali organizations in the city, did not know why the outbreak has occurred in that community. “We have not held any large arrangements, parties or religious holidays,” he said. The only large gathering was a funeral last week for a man who was shot, and that was attended by many people of other ethnic backgrounds as well. Like members of other minority groups, many Somalis hold jobs with high exposure to possible infection, such as healthcare assistant, cleaning staff and bus driver. 

Aarhus Mayor Jacob Bundsgaard says that the muncipality will focus preventive efforts on the neighborhoods with large Somali populations.