Sorry this is being published on here 4 days after writing it. Even a simple copy and paste from my Word document is a task I don’t have time for at the moment! Things have changed again here in Denmark but I’ll review all that in my next weekly round up.
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Friday 3rd April
This morning, Sofia named her friends at nursery and pædagog and then said “all gone.” It broke my heart. On top of Lydia’s phone call to “coronavirus” asking when it’s going. It makes me wonder how children must view the coronavirus and what they think of it all. Sofia, at 23 months is too young to understand but she can obviously notice that she isn’t going to nursery. Lydia accepts that her børnehave is closed and is actually very happy at home and playing with Sofia. A couple of weeks ago she excitedly told us that when she gets her “real” wand for Christmas (she started a Christmas list in January!), she could magic away the coronavirus. We have never spoken about it negatively, we just refer to it as a bit annoying but that we are helping people get better by staying at home. Lydia enjoyed listening to the Prime Minister’s press conference with me on Monday tea time, while I excitedly translated that things could start to open after Easter! Positive news on the way. Here’s my weekly update for The Local. I hope everyone is keeping as well as they can. x
My week three update for The Local, Friday 3rd April
It’s been 23 days since the Danish prime minister told the country it would go into lockdown to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Three weeks on, everything is still shut (except shops selling food and pharmacies), social distancing has become a norm and people are digging deep to cope with isolation or the childcare/work/life juggle. But this week brought a glimmer of hope that the quick and tough lockdown strategy is paying off. After Easter, ten days from now, there could be a “gradual, quiet and controlled opening,” of society if people adhere to lockdown advice and if infection rates of coronavirus look stable. It was the most positive press conference from prime minister Mette Frederiksen since the lockdown started. There may even been some church services on Easter Day.
It was hugely welcome news, as lockdown life is not easy for anyone. Earlier in the week my neighbour told me how he and his wife were working 14-hour days, to get both their jobs done, while home-schooling their 7 year-old and entertaining their two-year old. But after the positive press conference and no further restrictions, he was taking his family to a summer house to ride out the rest of lockdown, away from the city and apartment living.
Although cases and deaths linked to the coronavirus are still increasing, it is slowing down. On Thursday, 525 patients were in hospital with coronavirus in Denmark, ten fewer than on Wednesday. There have been at least 139 deaths linked to the coronavirus in total while 3,355 people have tested positive for the virus after 26,776 tests, according to Statens Serum Institute. Tests will soon be extended to those with mild symptoms, it was also announced this week.
The hope is that people still adhere to advice as we head into another sunny weekend and with Easter on the horizon. Outdoor life can still be enjoyed, while keeping a distance from others and there’s no doubt this is helping people. I have never seen so many runners in my neighbourhood. And there is still a strong sense of community. Every morning, there is “morgensang” on the channel DR1, getting people to start the day with a stretch and Danish songs. It’s a real reminder of the country’s togetherness.