Denmark��s COVID-19 pandemic response stands out internationally - Our new paper documents how

Through early and targeted measures, Denmark successfully limited COVID-19 infections, with a new study demonstrating how full lockdowns were avoided.

Published by:

PandemiX Center (Research Centre)

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By: PandemiX Center

A study published in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases (2025) demonstrates how Denmark effectively combined a non-pharmaceutical intervention suppression strategy - including mass testing, contact tracing, voluntary home isolation, and a robust digital infrastructure - with high vaccination coverage to limit COVID-19 spread without implementing full lockdowns.

In the first year, only 7% of the population was infected, with mass testing playing a central role in quickly identifying and isolating cases. Vaccines became available in January 2021, and by summer, 96% of adults over 50 were fully vaccinated. Thanks to these efforts, Denmark became the first country to drop all COVID-19 restrictions on February 1, 2022.

The study highlights that early and comprehensive action was crucial in keeping both infection rates and mortality substantially lower than in other European countries.