Denmark cautiously returns to everyday life to enable parents to go back to work
Tens of thousands of Danish children will be able to go to nursery, kindergarten or school again from today. Is the Danish way a good example for other countries?
Copenhagen (dpa) – Denmark, is taking a first cautious step towards its corona measures by opening its school and day-care facilities for younger children.
After a month with closed doors, not only nurseries and kindergartens but also schools for pupils up to the fifth grade will reopen from today, Wednesday.
This is primarily intended to relieve the burden on parents who previously had to look after their younger children in the corona crisis at home in addition to their work. Further relaxation of measures against the spread of the corona virus could follow.
Denmark had reacted particularly early with strict measures to the first confirmed cases of infection in the country. The Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen had, among other things, closed the borders on March 14, including those to Germany until further notice. Restaurants, cafés, pubs as well as theatres and other leisure facilities have also been closed for weeks.
Frederiksen had extended all these measures until 10 May just under a week ago. Meetings with more than ten people are thus still prohibited, and major events are prohibited until the end of August.
The youngest members of Danish society are now beginning the gradual return to normality. However, not all crèches, kindergartens and schools can open immediately, as they must meet certain conditions, including sufficient distance between children and extended hygiene regulations.
About half of all Danish municipalities stated in a survey that they will be able to open the doors of their first facilities this Wednesday. All others intend to do so by Monday at the latest.
While in Germany there is still a debate about the date for reopening the schools and the EU Commission wants to present its strategy for the gradual lifting of the corona requirements at noon today, Copenhagen is showing a way forward. However, the new daily life of the almost 400,000 pupils in the grades zero – the pre-school class in Denmark – to five, as well as the 250,000 children in the various day care facilities, will probably have to settle down after a month of closures. The same applies to their carers and teachers, who should pay particular attention to the distance between classes and groups. Anyone who feels ill or has a confirmed case of corona in the family should also stay at home.
