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As of today, new restrictive measures come into force in northern Denmark to prevent the spread of the coronavirus: at least until December 3, schools, bars, restaurants and gyms will be closed in seven municipalities in northern Jutland, where they are also suspended. public transport services, including trains. The government has decided to implement these measures after announcing the slaughter of all the country’s farmed minks, between 15 and 17 million animals. At least 12 people have been infected with a variant of SARS-CoV-2 that contains a mutation formed in mink, and the government fears that its spread between people could affect the effectiveness of future COVID-19 vaccines.
Among the new restrictions is a ban on gathering 10 people or more and also the closure of museums and libraries. Residents of the municipalities involved were advised not to move, to work from home if possible and to undergo coronavirus tests; other citizens do not go to the areas affected by the new closure. There have been more than 52,000 cases of coronavirus infection in Denmark since the start of the pandemic and 733 people have died from COVID-19. Health Minister Magnus Heunicke said that half of the 783 positivity cases found in northern Denmark “are related” to mink.
North Jutland is the region where most of Denmark’s mink farms are located, which is the largest European exporter of mink fur and the second largest in the world after China. Four thousand Danes work in the sector and according to government estimates the slaughter of all farm animals will cost the state up to 785 million euros, not counting the compensation promised to farmers.
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Already in other European countries, such as Spain and the Netherlands, a large number of minks had been sacrificed to limit the spread of the coronavirus, but not to a similar extent to what was decided in Denmark. The second largest exporter of mink fur to Europe is Poland, but so far no cases of coronavirus infection among animals have been reported in this country. On the other hand, in Sweden, where some cases have been found, on Thursday it was decided to introduce some restrictions on farms, but without killing the animals: the same mutation was not found in the virus that alarmed the Danish authorities.
Scientific studies on the coronavirus mutation found in Danish mink have not yet been published, so it is not known for sure if it could affect the effectiveness of future vaccines. However, according to a Frederiksen government report, the virus with the mutation particularly weakens the ability to form antibodies. The Danish government has informed the World Health Organization (WHO) of the issue of mutations: they will try to understand more together.
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