Prime Minister – Statsministeren (PM): Mette Frederiksen

Mette Frederiksen Director of Statens Serum Institut (SST): Søren Brostrøm

Søren Brostrøm Director of Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Udenrigsministeriet (UM): Erik Brøgger Rasmussen

Erik Brøgger Rasmussen Chief of Police – Politiet: Thorkild Fogde

Thorkild Fogde Minister of Health – Sundheds- og ældreminister: Magnus Heunicke

Please keep in mind that this is a very rough, rushed transcript. Please let us know if you see any major errors or anything that was left out. For news in Danish, this article on DR is the source right now: DR LIVE-TV: Danmark lukker ned: Elever, studerende og offentligt ansatte sendes hjem. We may add more sources as they appear.

Bullet Points:

Because community spread has been detected (i.e. contact tracing no longer indicates all cases are from outside of Denmark, the disease is now spreading within the Danish society), the next phase of the pandemic plan has been enacted

There are now 514 total cases, 10 in hospital, 2 of them critical

total cases, in hospital, of them critical All public servants who are not performing critical functions will be sent home from Friday, March 13, 2020 for two weeks

Private businesses asked to have all workers for whom it is possible to work from home. When this is not possible they are recommended to attempt to have as few people working at the same time as possible, for instance by moving shifts around.

Hospitals and nursing homes, etc. are urged to introduce stricter restrictions on visits immediately

All schools and daycare facilities will be closed from Monday, March 16, 2020 for two weeks . If at all possible it is recommended to already do this from tomorrow Thursday March 12th . Special arrangements will be made for those who do not have the possibility to watch their kids, such as workers in the healthcare system.

. If at all possible it is recommended to already do this from . Special arrangements will be made for those who do not have the possibility to watch their kids, such as workers in the healthcare system. Work is underway to prohibit gatherings of more than 100 people indoors, legislation is expected to be passed tomorrow, March 12th , and take effect on Monday, March 16th .

indoors, legislation is expected to be passed , and take effect on . We must limit the use of public transport.

Don’t travel unless you absolutely have to . Stay away from any areas in red or orange. Tyrol is now red. Israel, Palestine, areas in Spain, Germany, Switzerland, France, Tyrkey, Egypt, Thailand, Vietnam and India are now orange.

. Stay away from any areas in red or orange. Tyrol is now red. Israel, Palestine, areas in Spain, Germany, Switzerland, France, Tyrkey, Egypt, Thailand, Vietnam and India are now orange. People who are seriously ill with the virus will from tomorrow be able to be treated at any acute hospital, compared to the 6 in use up until now. The people who are hit hardest by the coronavirus will receive treatment; those who are less hard hit should stay home.

All indoor cultural institutions, libraries, recreational facilities, etc. are now closed for two weeks from Friday the 13 of March

Students of higher institutions should go home starting now, and for two weeks from Friday March 13, 2020

PM: There will be large consequences for all Danes. The situation will be difficult for many citizens, and we’ll need to help each other.

I want to start with the current situation: When we were here yesterday there were 157 Danish cases, today we have 514 – 10 times more than on Monday when it was 35. Corona spreads extremely quickly, in Italy they’re running low on respirators and other critical equipment. This isn’t said to scare you, it is the reality in a country that all of us know and where many of us have been.

As authorities and citizens we have one task, avoid too many Danes are infected at one time. It is moving too quickly, and therefore we are intensifying the effort to slow the spread of the infection.

We have a large responsibility to protect the weak in society. If many are infected, then the intensive departments and the health system cannot keep up.

This is the situation we must do the best we can to prevent.

We’re moving into the next phase where we are seeing community spread of infection here. We need to take stronger measures into use. This can only work if everyone does their part. Everyone needs to be aware of how serious this situation is. Analysis of the infection tells us that one thing in particular works, and that is that we don’t hang around other people too much. We must stand together but in a different way than we normally do.

We have to stand together by keeping our distance.

We need to act today rather than regret tomorrow. We have to put in efforts where people are gathered. The recommendation is to close down all activities for a while.

Following steps:

Students on all institutions are sent home now, and two weeks from Friday.

All indoors culture institutions, libraries, sports centers, etc. close now, and two weeks from Friday.

All private institutions, associations, faith communities, etc. are heavily recommended to do the same.

All public employees who are not doing health-related or critical work are sent home for two weeks.

People who are doing a critical function can stay at work, others should go home. Those who can should work from home, but everyone will be paid.

Staff in the health sector, police, people working with weak people will stay at work. We need them.

All private employers are expected to ensure that as many as possible can work from home, use extra holidays or take a leave of absence.

We need to minimize activity as much as possible, without causing society to stand still. We need to avoid a crisis. We are performing these massive changes in the public sector to enable the private sector to continue normally for as long as possible. We need to be able to buy goods, we are not in a food crisis. No need to hoard toilet paper or rugbrød.

All schools are closed from Monday, March 16th and two weeks forward. Encourage all families to keep their kids home from tomorrow. How do we handle this? We need to help each other. And I encourage that families already now talk to each other about how to work in shifts and adapt, with friends, neighbors, to take care of the kids.

Some schools and institutions need to be kept open for parents who cannot find another solution, or who are performing a critical function. If there are no other options, lone parents, for instance, the individual school will figure it out. It isn’t dangerous for a single kid to be in school but it can help spread contagion. It will take time to put this in effect.

Have patience, these are big changes.

We need to limit the use of public transport. Passengers must be less close. On DSB trains you must now have an assigned seat.

Hospitals are to start limiting visiting hours, and this is very important to adhere to.

No more than 100 people are recommended to be gathered indoors. Night clubs, bars, should be closed for a while. The current legislation does not enable us to enforce this recommendation, but we’ll ask parliament to pass new laws tomorrow. Next week it will be enforced.

We Danes will see less of each other, for at least two weeks.

The Foreign Ministry are making their recommendations more strict. A range of countries will be added. We are also considering more restrictions on coming into Denmark, for instance a health check before you will be admitted. This will all have gigantic consequences. But the alternative can get much worse, I hope people will understand, and I think that they will.

Normally a government wouldn’t announce such sweeping changes without having solutions in place for everyone, but we’re in an exceptional situation. This will raise many relevant questions, and we will not yet be able to answer all of them.

Honestly, we will not get through this without costs. Businesses will incur losses and some people will lose their jobs. The government will do what it can to limit these losses and help those affected.

I will heavily recommend vulnerable citizens, those who are old or have illnesses who the coronavirus will affect the most, to stay home if at all possible.

We healthy people have a big responsibility to the vulnerable in our society.

The neighbor goes to the store for someone, we cook for each other, we try to be alert.

Many people are showing great community spirit, you should keep doing this, it is what is important in this situation. I thank the parties of Parliament for good cooperation, I have had meeting with all party heads about the emergency legislation.

At the end I want to say that I will not take part in any external events for the next 14 days. It may be little things, but the little things are a part of the solution.

We do it because we expect it to have an effect. We must not panic, but think of the vulnerable people.

I want to thank the employees in the health system for what they’re doing and what we’ll need in the coming days.

We will see big changes and I need to be honest and say that it will be tough, it will demand a lot of all of us, but especially the health staff in intensive ward and those in contact with the patients. We will need you in the coming days.

To the whole population, this is new ground, we have not tried this before. We will make mistakes, I will make mistakes and we will ask for patience, we cannot answer all questions now. We will answer the questions as quickly as possible. There will be additional press meetings tomorrow with many specific and technical questions answered.

While these are the most significant changes, this is not an exhaustive list, there can be and should be expected more initiatives.

We need to do all we can to protect Denmark.

Minister of Health:

Current situation: 514 confirmed cases, but with a significant dark figure. 10 are in the hospital, 2 in critical condition in ICU. Denmark has had one the most dramatic increases in new cases. We are standing at the foot of the epidemic, the coronavirus has been seeded in our society. What we do right now is extremely critical for the development in the coming weeks and months.

We have two scenarios; a red and a green one. In the red scenario the number of infected will continue increasing sharply and if it continues the number of people requiring medical attention will increase beyond the capacity of the health system. Other departments will be pushed and not able to do what they do normally.

So we need to push into the green scenario where the number of infected increases more slowly, so that we do not exceed the capacity of the system. It’ll still be a serious situation, but then we can avoid what has happened in Italy, where the situation is extremely serious.

We decide how we get through this.

Søren Brostrøm, SST:

There is no doubt this is very serious, here in Denmark and the whole world. It has only been two months since the virus was named. And now we’re here with a very rapid increase of cases in Denmark. We see a steep increase it in many countries and the epidemic continues to take hold in many countries. WHO today declared it a pandemic. This does not happen often, the last time was 10 years ago in 2009.

This should not be taken lightly, and we don’t. We’ve seen a rapid increase, and we’re starting to see community spreading, and we’re also starting to see patients that need intensive treatment.

Therefore we must also focus the resources of the health system towards the most vulnerable people. We’re changing strategy from a strategy of containment, from trying to find cases and isolate them. We’ve used resources on people who aren’t very ill an attempt to slow the spread as much as possible.

But since we are now seeing the development of community spread it no longer makes sense to track the infections or where they come from. We now need to focus on treating the people who need it the most. We’ll send out new information tomorrow. We will no longer ask your travel history, but how ill you are. Those that need to go to the hospital will be tested for the virus, so they can be handled in isolation.

The others who have a cold or the flu, etc, there is no need to test. You need to stay at home so we can prevent the spread of infection. We will have a big focus on protecting people vulnerable to the virus and especially the health care workers.

So far 6 hospitals have been handling the coronavirus cases. Tomorrow we open all hospitals with wards to use the entire capacity. The seriously ill will go to those hospitals that are equipped to handle it. And we’re increasing the capacity.

Thorkild Fogde, Police:

We have a common responsibility for the weak in society, even if we ourselves aren’t. We all need to show responsibility, not only those who have reasons to fear the virus. We need to stand together, and we do that by not gathering in crowds. It might sound paradoxical, but that is what is important now. When a place like Søpavillonen (a night club) spreads infection, there will be consequences if the adviscements are not followed. It’s about not you, but society. The readiness of the Police and Denmark is strong, we’ll do what we can to ensure that everything that is necessary will be present. The crisis management system will keep the supply lines of society open and that will be a major focus.

This situation must be taken seriously, but people also need to stay calm. We’re in close contact with all authorities to help us all through this situation. We know this will work, but we all need to make sacrifices.

Erik Brøgger Rasmussen, Ministry of Foreign affairs:

Repeatedly we have changed our guidance in these past weeks. Today is no exception.

Today we say we shouldn’t go to large areas of Germany, areas in France, Corsica, Alsace, an area in Switzerland on the border to Austria. Turkey, Egypt.

Countries are adding restrictions on incoming travelers, Vietnam, India and others. There’s no reason to go, because you can’t get in.

Stay out of Tyrol (southern Germany). Get home if you’re there. Stop going there.

This is out of caution. We’re changing these guidelines because of the big increases of infected in the western European countries.

A special request to the citizens that are of weak health, this really isn’t the time to travel. Take care of yourself.

This will not be the last time we revise the guidance. There is always a risk in traveling, there is more now than normally. We can also start bringing out infection to other areas when we travel and we need to avoid this.

Some Danes that do travel end up stranded out in the world as other countries are adding restrictions, think about that too.

Consider it very carefully if you are plan on traveling. We have a color scale, it is very dark yellow for the next weeks and months.

Questions:

Q: To SST, this has happened over very few days. What has caused it to develop this fast? Could you have done it this Friday rather than now? Going forward, the new strategy, where does this end, where will it top? When will the number of infected start going down?

A: SST: An epidemic develops with a curve we’ve all seen. After it reaches the top the number starts falling, and the whole thing usually takes between 12 and 16 weeks. But the length of the top depends a lot on what we do. We’re not sure exactly what the new things we are doing will do with the number of infected, but it will have an effect. It is difficult to assess exactly how. We’re also moving into summer soon, which has other factors that can potentially reduce spread.

From the beginning our strategy has been to delay infection, hopefully to keep us in the green scenario. We’re now in the situation where the number of infected is so high, that the existing strategy isn’t viable any more and we need to change how the medical system handles it. We need to take these new actions to try and contain the spread. It is a new disease and a new situation. We’re trying to do everything we can, the right decisions in the right moment. In this new situation we are going significant steps up.

Q: It’s a very explosive increase, new numbers released several times each day. Is it realistic, it looks more like the red scenario. Is it realistic to avoid the red scenario? First wave may be 600.000 infected. Does this change the scenarios you are planning on?

A: We’re definitely worried about the rapid increase. However many of the infected we can explain from where they came. But we see more and more that have been infected in Denmark. Then we start not being able to see the chain of infection. We’re following this closely. If the situation will end up like it has in Italy, we cannot say at this point. We are ahead of where the Italian authorities were, and we hope we don’t see the same situation. We cannot yet say. We will publish figures so we already next week can see how the epidemic is moving.

Q: Many Danes can see that they should stay at home for a while. Should private employees go without pay?

A: Initially we are asking the private employers to change the way work is performed to mitigate the risk of infection. Work at home if at all possible. If not, then work in shifts, staggered hours to have fewer people at work at once. Take extra holidays or off days to build on this strategy. The goal is to reduce the amount of people at a workplace at once. We know the societal consequences will be severe, even if the we don’t know the consequences exactly. We’re not just worried for the immediately affected businesses, but all businesses. We are concerned for the small businesses too. We do not have the answers today. We’ll do all we can to get through this crisis, also regarding economics. But seeing what we are seeing in Europe and the number of infected at home, I don’t think we’re going to get through this without damaging Danish people’s finances.

Q: School closings, when do they start? Friday or now? And regarding 100 people, are gatherings of that size now prohibited?

A: We’re changing from a recommended maximum gathering size of 1000 people to 100 people for indoor events. We cannot prohibit it currently, but we’d like to be able to. We’re planning to be able to do this tomorrow. Everyone agreed to process the new legislation as quickly and effectively as possible, so we hope the law can go into place next week. Regarding schools, the recommendation is that students who are young adults or adults need to go home as soon as possible, latest Friday. But I expect all students to hear this and not go in tomorrow.

For primary schools and daycare’s they do not close until Monday because we need emergency child care assistance ready, we do not have time to do this tomorrow. But anyone who can take care of their child at home should do so tomorrow.

Q: Health care workers still need to perform their jobs. Will elder care homes escape consequences too?

A: We need to take care of our old and vulnerable. Our strategy has three legs:

Take care of corona-related challenges

Take care of all other patients, children to be born, etc.

Take care of the workers in the health care system. Ensure that they have the equipment, personal protection equipment that they need. Reduce the amount of meetings they take part in.

We will prioritize in the health system, how to use the resources best possible.

PM: We will also ask Folketinget about emergency laws regarding the health system to move capacity.

A: Minister of Health: The treatment guarantee will have to be suspended, like it was suspended 10 years ago for the major nurse strike. This will not affect life-threatening conditions like cancer, but things like knee surgeries where we currently have a guarantee on the maximum allowed waiting time. These guarantees will have to be suspended because we will now need that capacity for dealing with the coronavirus infections.

PM: We have deals with the other parties, that we will enact temporary legislation, which we will revert after this and look at the legislation. Roll back what is not needed in a normal situation.

Q: The largest indoor crowd size is lowered from 1000 people to 100 people. But 99 people in a crowd is also a problem. Why not set the limit lower?

A: PM: If the limit was 75 people, you’d ask why it isn’t 60 people. Our assessment, that going from 1000 to 100 people is significant. Any crowd people who are gathered is an issue with regards to the infection risk.

Politi: When we do these things, societal activity goes down. Should everyone be prevented from leaving their home? Even though there is no prohibition for crowds of less than 100 people, if one is weakened or ill one shouldn’t chance it.

PM: We need all Danes, no matter what because of what we’re saying takes every effect. We will lack staff in the health system if too many of those are infected. We do not have infinite resources, regarding respirators or staff. For The sake of the old in the family, or other people who have health issues, and everyone who works in the health system. Everyone needs to think for a while “it isn’t my need that is necessary” All unnecessary activity in society should be reduced and stopped if at all possible.

Q: You mention this will be processed quickly with the treatment guarantee. The Hospital of North Zealand has cancelled all non-life-threatening surgeries or investigations. Is that part of the strategy?

A: Minister of Health: For this legislation to have an effect, this needs to happen. We have asked to regions to prepare for this. It will be for a limited period, and a limited amount of people, where we will prioritize the coronavirus over this.

I have been in contact with my health colleagues in EU, the Italian minister said “Do everything you can right now, to avoid being in a situation like in Northern Italy”

It’s the same tools that they’re putting into action in a long range of other European countries. We cannot predict how this’ll develop. We need to do all we can to get into a slower pace of infection.

PM: We must expect many groups of patients will be affected by the changes.

SST Søren B.: We’re in close dialog with the hospital leaders. We’re not canceling surgeries but postponing them. We need to take care of that this is done in a responsible way. We’re talking with hospital heads, but it will be an individual medical decision. Afterwards, there will be a backlog of cases. We need to take care of the health care workers, because there will be much work for them now and also after the epidemic.

I’m getting a lot of mails from retired medical professionals who are offering to come out of retirement to help.

Q: Denmark is one of the countries where the virus has spread the fastest. Did you act too late?

A: I don’t think so, I believe we have taken good actions. It has spread even faster in some of our neighboring countries.

Q: You’ve talked of things you’d like to implement but cannot do yet. Shouldn’t you be ready to do these things today?

A: PM: Restrictions vs recommendations. I have been saying that what we’re introducing isn’t an exhaustive list. When we do things we have to expect more will be necessary. For instance changing the gathering rule limit from 1000 to 100 people. But we cannot legislate our way out of this. We have to trust that people follow the recommendations. We cannot have the Police check that people cough correctly. We have to trust that people will keep their distance. And this will be the case for a range of areas. No matter how accurate we are with legislation, it will be interpreted. Like not visiting our parents if ill, we cannot legislate that. We have to also rely on common sense.

We will legislate, but we also need to do all we can do.

Q: Transport, airplanes. People have landed from red zones and been able to get through the airport. Are there new initiatives about how people can arrive?

A: Politi: It is related to the foreign ministry’s recommendations. It all starts with UM’s categories of recommendations.

PM: We are investigating further things, like being able to turn people away if they arrive from red areas. We’re checking if we can ban people coming on ships.

Q: There is no food shortage. Other places see hoarding, do you fear that? Do you have initiatives to prevent this?

A: PM: Fear is too strong a word compared to the rest, but I can be worried that people will hoard. We have seen it in other situations that have been less serious than this. We do not think now that we’re in a situation where there will be shortages. It is important for the private sector to keep the supply chains running. I have already seen the first recommendations to shop as normally. From the authorities we will be following this closely.

Q: How should the 100 person rule be understood, for instance in a restaurant or an airplane where there are more than 100 people – also in Folketinget?

A: Politi: For planes, the traffic is already decreasing. Specifically how, it is not more than 100 people indoors. We will follow up with specific recommendations and texts. It isn’t the limit itself that is important, it is to prevent people gathering generally.

PM: Even though we’re going towards banning things, it is still up to common sense for Danes. More distance, physically, between us. Take care of each other, especially if ill. Stay home, no matter if it is coronavirus or the cold.

In Folketinget, there is a meeting at 8 am tomorrow, on how it should handle giving votes. I know that they’re checking how to prevent less than 100 people at once in the parliament hall.

Q: Do you recommend people cancel trips abroad?

A UM: Areas in orange and red, they should cancel. All other countries, you should really think before going. There are lots of risks. Risk of being stranded, risk of being infected. We will not put police in the airport, but please think very carefully about it.

Not in doubt that we’re going to have a tough time ahead.