On Wednesday, the Danish government announced it would relax some of its restrictions on foreigners traveling into the country. The restrictions, in place since mid-March, had affected foreign spouses and life partners, as well as the children and parents of Danes born outside the country.
Denmark was one of the first countries to close its borders to non-Danes due to the spreak of the coronavirus in mid-March. Now it is one of the first countries to ease some restrictions.
The Danish government announced that it would be reopening its borders to foreign spouses and life partners, as well as the children and parents of Danes born outside the country. Even those without a residence permit may now re-enter the country, reported news agency dpa.
Previously, wrote the agency, only foreigners with an "important reason to be there," had been allowed to enter.
Despite the easing of the measure, anyone showing symptoms of the coronavirus would still be stopped at the border when tested, Foreign and Integration Minister Mattias Tesfaye confirmed to dpa.
Restrictions gradually eased
During the Danish lockdown, foreigners with a residence permit who had been working in Denmark were allowed to stay and continue work and, like Danish citizens, were allowed to enter and leave the country if there was a valid reason. Border controls at Denmark’s borders with Germany, Norway and Sweden have been in place since March 14.
The travel restrictions comes after Denmark reopened its primary schools on Monday and announced that people in professions like physiotherapy and hairdressing could also resume work.
At the time of writing, April 23, Denmark had confirmed just over 8,000 cases of infection with the novel coronavirus and had registered 384 deaths.
With material from dpa