Fast in, first out: Denmark leads lockdown exit

BACK TO SCHOOL

A month later, the government embarked on its gradual reopening by letting the youngest children go back to school, drawing some concern from medical experts who said it was too early.

Last week, Denmark entered Phase 2 of its easing, allowing shopping malls to reopen followed by cafes and restaurants this week.

"We now have the coronavirus under control," said Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen last week.

When the Copenhagen café Coffee Collective opened its doors to seated customers on Monday, it was quieter than usual. Most enjoyed their coffee alone at tables placed apart, while some sat outside at tables on the street.

"I think it was a good decision (to shut down early), because we can see now on the numbers that everything has worked better than in some neighbouring countries," said Ellen Vallentin Asmus, a graphic illustrator, enjoying a coffee at the cafe for the first time in two months.

"I think in Denmark there's a strong culture of following the rules and listening to the government, and I think that has helped with everyone taking the restrictions and social distancing seriously," said Sydney-Johanna Stevns, a strategist at a research and design lab in Copenhagen.

"Mentally it's nice to be out and have something of a normal life again."

Danes began returning to work this month but workplaces have restricted the number of employees allowed, leaving public transport half empty.

The fast lockdown and reopening was partly due to Denmark's centralised government structure, which enabled quick and seamless coordination and a unified voice, said Jan Pravsgaard Christensen, professor in immunology of infectious diseases at the University of Copenhagen.

The government's decision to shut down early contrasted with the approach in Sweden, where the death toll relative to the size of population is four times higher, as authorities have kept large parts of society open.

Frederiksen said political decisions had to be made quickly and waiting for scientific evidence would have put too many lives at risk or caused unnecessary harm to the economy.

"The strategy we follow is a political choice," she said last month. "Our approach is science-based, but we cannot wait for evidence. We would simply risk too many lives if we did."