Last Week in Denmark (05.09 - 12.09) Episode 29
RS virus epidemic; End of restrictions; Gold treasure; Free birth control
Public Health HQ
Status: 75,6% of the population has been vaccinated (4,428,948 people). 73,1% of the population has received the second vaccine shot (4,282,637 people). 83,2% have received Pfizer/BioNTech; 12,3% Moderna; 3,4% AstraZeneca and 1,1% Janssen. The region with the highest vaccination rate - North Denmark.
Corona infection status: There is an average of 550 new infected people every day. 132 people are hospitalized. The five municipalities with the highest rate of infection are: Harlev, Vallensbæk, Ishøj, Albertslund and Frederiksberg. Check out more data here.
Travel Guidelines: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, updates every week (on Saturday) the travel guidelines, by dividing the world into three colors (red, yellow and green). This week's changes - Friuli-Venezia-Giulia regions in Italy, Sjeverna Hrvatska in Croatia and Burgenland and Carinthia in Austria become yellow. Lazio region in Italy and Azores in Portugal become green. If you travel from a yellow country to Denmark, you need to have a corona pass (vaccinated, infected before or recently tested). Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Brunei Darussalam, Japan and Serbia turned yellow. Before traveling to or from Denmark, you should always check what travel restrictions are in effect. For the countries in the EU, Re-open EU is a good place to start.
Close contacts in school: Sundhedsstyrelsen (The National Board of Health) changed the guidelines for the children in school that sat close or played with other children who tested positive for Covid-19. Up until this week, these children were sent home, but now they will be offered a quick test at school to determine if they got the virus.
No more Danish vaccine: The government is canceling the plans for the Covid-19 vaccine production in Denmark.
Final vaccination sprint: Some local sports activities and other organizations together with Sundhedsstyrelsen plan to collaborate to ensure easy access to the vaccination against covid-19. DGI, SMV Denmark and the Danish Sports Confederation have joined the program already.
Denmark’s RS Virus epidemic: During the past 4 months there have been over 1,700 cases of the RS Virus. This virus usually makes an appearance during the winter months, but this year is an exception. It is most common in children between the ages of 1 and 3.
No more restrictions: This week, Denmark became the first EU country to lift all restrictions in effect against Covid-19. The Coronapass will not be required anymore. The only restrictions remain for the people in quarantine.
Danish Politics HQ
The first part of the reform package“Denmark can do more” has been presented this week. The proposal from the Danish government will be discussed in the Parliament in the following months. With enough support from the other parties, the proposals can turn into laws within two years.
Student?
The unemployment benefits for graduates will drop to 9.500 DKK /month (before taxes) if you are under 30 years old and to 12.000 DKK if you are over 30 years old. If you have a child, this cut doesn’t affect you.
You can receive unemployment benefits (graduates) for one year. (Instead of two like today)
A requirement to know the Danish language (at an unknown level for now) will be introduced. The requirement will not apply if you had a job during your studies.
The rate of unemployment benefits can grow depending on your income during your studies.
You can earn up to 4000 DKK (next to SU) without paying taxes.
Worker?
4 years of A-Kasse membership + honest work in the last 2 years out of 3, can earn you an increased unemployment benefits rate. 5000 DKK more in the first 3 months.
A larger part of your contributions to the trade union will return via taxes (7000 DKK)
On the Social Safety Net?
The 37-hours rule will be introduced. This means that you need to work those hours for the benefit of society. Beach and forest cleaning and other important tasks for society.
In the beginning, the rule will affect only those that have been on the social safety net in the past 3 years out of four and haven’t passed the second level in Danish.
A 5000 DKK prize (not taxed) for those that choose to get out of the social safety net.
Livin’ in Denmark?
The yearly green check will be given only to pensioners. The supplementary green check for children will increase by 240 DKK.
The electricity bill will be lower. The tax on electricity will gradually be lowered until 2030.
The tax on earnings from the stock market will increase – from 42% to 45%.
One billion will be invested yearly in the green transition.
3 climate-oriented vocational schools will be opened to prepare the workforce for the green transition.
Two billion and a half will be invested in education, to ensure that all who finish compulsory education can read, write and calculate. At the moment, we have 600,000 people with difficulties in reading and writing.
Entrepreneur?
Deductions up to 50 million DKK for investments in research and development
The bureaucracy around running a firm in Denmark will be digitalized and simplified to reduce costs.
Reactions to the reform package
The social-democrat mayor of Aarhus, Jacob Bundsgaard, considers the 37-hours rule for the people on the social safety net to be the wrong approach. He doesn’t expect that putting people to clean beaches and forests will bring them closer to the job market. The mayor of Ishøj, Ole Bjørstorp agrees with him. The municipalities will have to find community work for almost 20,000 people - a task expected to be almost impossible.
Nurses: All around Denmark, nurses stop working daily for a certain period to express their dissatisfaction with the government intervention in their protest for higher wages.
Soldiers: SF (Socialists), Radikale Venstre (Social-Liberals) and Enhedslisten (Red-Green Alliance) want a two-thirds majority in the Parliament before Danish soldiers can be sent to war outside Danish borders. This is a reaction to the Danish involvement in Afghanistan.
Deductions for housing improvements: “Abolish them, they only benefit the rich” was the message of the trade unions to the government. 3F believes that the deductions increase economic inequality, as half a billion dkk goes yearly from the state into the pockets of the richer citizens.
Danish Economy HQ
The housing market is stabilizing: According to Boligsiden, there was an increase in house prices of only 0.3% from July to August 2021.
Daily Life in Denmark HQ
Ronja Røverdatter: Astrid Lindgren’s 1981 children’s book is getting a series that will premiere in 2023 on Viaplay. The book follows the adventures of a robber’s daughter, Ronja, and it will take place in Sweden. The author has more than 75 books published and sold over 165 million copies.
Medical Cannabis: Aalborg University Hospital together with researchers from Aalborg University finished the trial tests for medical cannabis usage in patients with osteoarthritis in hands and psoriatic arthritis. The study had the purpose of reducing the pain in these types of patients, but the results were not promising. This was the first Danish study on cannabis-based medicine. 136 people participated in the study.
Beginner’s luck: Ole Schytz discovered a treasure after just a handful of uses of his new metal detector. The gold treasure contained 22 artifacts of small sizes believed to be parts of amulets. The precious metal pieces are scheduled to be displayed in Vejle Art Museum next February after they will be straightened and polished.
The World in 2021 HQ
Responsibility change: The Australian Supreme Court ruled that the local media outlets are to be regarded as publishers on the platform and will be held accountable for the comments they receive on their Facebook pages. As a backlash, the news outlets may restrict readers’ comments on their posts.
Mexico vs. abortion: The Supreme Court ruled the criminalization of abortion unconstitutional. After years of effort from a Women’s movement in Mexico, the procedure will be legalized and all imprisoned women based on abortion are to be released.
Rough start: El Salvador became the first country in the world to accept Bitcoin as legal tender, but on the release day, the country’s digital wallet, Chivo, crashed and it was full of glitches. This sparked protests among the citizens.
Free birth control: Olivier Veran, the French Health Minister, announced that starting 2022, all women under the age of 25 will be offered free birth control and the visits to the doctor regarding contraception will also be free of charge. It’s important to mention that until this day, France offered free birth control to all women aged 18 and under.
Russia and Belarus: The two presidents, Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko agreed to institute common tax and customs measures, among the 28 points discussed during their meeting. This will increase Russia’s power over Belarus.
European Union HQ
EUROBAROMETER results:
Around 60% of EU citizens believe their country will be able to overcome the social and economic damage created by the pandemic by using the EU’s recovery budget.
Distrust in the local government: on average, only 44% said they trust their government will do the right thing with the EU money. The lowest scores were in Slovenia with 23%, Slovakia - 25% and Hungary - 28% and the highest were recorded in Denmark with 70% and Luxembourg - 74%.
Conditions for EU money: 81% of respondents agreed that the EU should provide funds only under the condition that the member states will abide by the law in regards to the democratic principles (for example freedom of the press). Although the percentage is high, Poland sits last with 72%.
The European Parliament’s priorities: about 43% of the citizens surveyed said they want the top priority to lie on fighting climate change, 32% responded that fighting poverty is the most important and 27% said the parliament’s top priority should be asylum and immigration policy.
The Jean Monnet Prize: The EuropeanConstitution.eu (an NGO) opened the application period for the Jean Monnet Prize. The projects submitted need to focus on supporting or strengthening European integration. The winning project will receive a grant of 1,500€. The application period ends on the 9th of October and the winner will be chosen on the 9th of November. Send your application here.