Denmark ends most virus restrictions, as Sweden extends them

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Denmark’s government said Wednesday it will scrap most pandemic restrictions next week, even as neighboring Sweden extended its own measures for another fortnight. “But fewer people become seriously ill.” Denmark has in recent weeks seen more than 46,000 daily cases on average, but only 40 people are currently in hospital intensive care units — down from 80 a few weeks ago — Health Minister Magnus Heunicke said. Social Affairs Minister Lena Hallengren said the country, which had previously stood out among European nations for its comparatively hands-off pandemic response, has “an extremely record high spread of infection.” Karin Tegmark Wisell, head of Sweden’s Public Health Agency, said infections are expected to decline in a couple of weeks. In another Scandinavian country, Finland, Prime Minister Sanna Marin tweeted that “the government will assess the necessity of restrictions.” She added that it “should consider opening low-risk cultural and sports events with a COVID pass and extending the opening hours of restaurants on a quicker schedule than was previously estimated.” ___ Follow all AP stories on the pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic.