The health authorities have once again changed the categorization of Covid-19. According to the Epidemics Act, it is no longer a “generally dangerous disease”, but will in future only be classified as a “contagious disease” like flu.
Previously, Covid-19 was classified as a “generally dangerous disease” (alment farlig sygdom), but that is now over. According to the definition in the Epidemics Act, it will only be a “contagious disease” (smitsom sygdom) in the future. The changed categorization was announced in early March and has been in effect since Saturday.
According to the Epidemics Act, there is the possibility of taking a number of special measures in the case of generally dangerous diseases. For example, quarantine orders can be issued and authorities have extended access to the disclosure of personal data.
No big threat anymore
Søren Brostrøm, the director of the health authority, has previously stated that the new categorization of Covid-19 does not mean that the virus is gone. However, the change reflects that it no longer poses a major threat to society.
The epidemic law works with three different categories. There are contagious diseases, so now that includes Covid-19, and the flu. Then there are generally dangerous diseases, to which Corona has belonged in recent years. The third category is a socially critical illness. Covid-19 was in this category until early 2022. Diseases in this category, by definition, can cause serious disruption in societal functioning.
Milestone in Danish history
The downgrade marks a milestone in Danish Corona history. It’s been three years that have changed society in positive and negative ways, says Michael Bang Petersen, a professor at Aarhus University who has researched the attitudes, trust and behavior of Danes during the pandemic.
It is known that there are groups that have a greater distrust of the system and political leadership. But there are also positive effects of the crisis, he says.
Lessons from the Corona period
“It’s important to say that we didn’t just take bad things with us. There is evidence in our data that weathering a crisis increases confidence in our ability to weather major turmoil. So while we’ve lost a little confidence, everyone has gotten a sense that we can actually pull through here.” , says Bang Petersen, specifically naming the younger generation who have gone through a difficult situation.
In this way, we are weaker in some areas and better prepared in others for new times of crisis, says the professor.
“There are enough crises on the horizon, and we are already facing some of them.”
