COPENHAGEN, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Denmark will launch the second phase of re-openings after May 10, revealed Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen during a parliamentary inquiry debate on the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic on Wednesday.
"The infection is under control, and we have succeeded with the Danish strategy," said Frederiksen.
"We will soon present the long-term plan for the order of the reopening. So both citizens and businesses know the time perspective for the opening of, restaurants, children's education, sports, and large centers."
The prime minister also presented an olive branch to the opposition by saying she would seek agreement among the political parties for "the long-term strategy that has been in demand for the reopening."
However, she argued it was "difficult to make a final plan when the development of the infection is crucial to what can be reopened."
"We are still in a health crisis. We must not compromise the health of the Danes," she said.
According to her, the more health-related, long-term strategy will involve a more offensive testing strategy, more use of protective equipment, more hygiene, the continuation of social distancing, and the avoidance of "super-proliferation" at large assemblies such as concerts and festivals.
The opposition, however, criticizes the government for not being sufficiently open about the plan for the reopening.
The prime minister said that there were many desires for what should be reopened. But the government was "sticking with doing it slowly and controlled."
"Let me make it clear. The government is not going to be pressured to advance too quickly," she told the opposition parties during the parliamentary debate.
The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Denmark stood at 9,008, with a death toll of 443, according to fresh figures from the Danish Statens Serum Institut on Wednesday. Enditem
