Danes are not following the authorities’ recommendations (DK) on hygiene and social distancing as strictly as they were before, according to a new study. A research project called “HOPE – How Democracies Cope with Covid-19” has found that as the number of infections and deaths decline and society begins to reopen, Danes are easing up on the practices that led to an improvement of the situation. Michael Bang Petersen, Professor at the Institute for Political Science at Aarhus University, says the tendency has been consistent and is cause for concern. Most people continue to comply with the guidelines, but it becomes harder to do so over time. People get a sense of security because the infection figures are falling and they are tired of following a strict regime, says Petersen. 

The survey covered three parameters: hand hygiene – whether people washed their hands several times a day; social distancing – whether they avoid gatherings of more than 10 people; and whether they had changed their behavior generally during the lockdown. The figures for all three parameters show that people’s compliance with the recommendations peaked around March 23-25 and has been declining steadily since. The problem with using such information in an epidemic, says Petersen, is that the effects of changed behavior may not show up in symptoms until 14 days later, when it is too late to avoid infection. He urges people to maintain their discipline, especially now, when businesses are reopening and people are coming into closer contact, because not doing so could lead to a second wave of infections. In that case, the country would lose the progress it has made.

Debating the criteria for reopening

A child psychologist has criticized the conditions (DK) in which the youngest children are returning to day-care centers and has advised parents to keep them home. In an interview on Sunday, Margrethe Brun Hansen argued that children under the age of three should be introduced to nurseries gradually, with their parents in the room until they feel secure. Minister for Children and Education Pernille Rosenkrantz-Theil said that she could understand why some parents might be concerned, but she has a young child herself and is not worried. She said that we have well-educated employees who evaluate the children when they arrive. The key factor for her was that the staff comply with the Health Authorities’ guidelines before they open a day-care center. 

The Sports Confederation of Denmark has announced that it has received new guidelines from the Health Authority and it is removing its ban on activities for sports (DK) that take place outdoors without physical contact. This applies to sports that involve only small groups and that can be conducted according to the general guidelines for the pandemic. For example, people must dress and shower at home and not share equipment. The Health Authority’s ban on sports had applied specifically to indoor sports, but the Sports Confederation itself extended it to cover outdoor sports as well as a precautionary measure. The sports that can reopen include golf, tennis and kayaking, in which few people participate together. Team sports such as soccer that involve physical contact, are still not allowed.

Sex is good

Another physical activity that usually involves few people has also gotten a green light. At a press conference on Monday, Søren Brostrøm, the head of the Danish Health Authority, assured people that there is no ban on sex (DK): “Sex is good. Sex is healthy. We are sexual creatures.” Singles can also have sex, he continued, referring people to the practical guidelines on safe sex on the Health Authority’s web site. The website indeed has an enormous amount of information on all aspects of behavior and social relations during the epidemic. On its FAQ page (DK), it says that the corona virus is not transmitted by semen and blood and that you should protect yourself by “washing your hands (and any sex toys) with soap and water before and after sex and masturbation.” The advisability of wearing masks for singles who are dating is not addressed.