Denmark is the First in Europe to Return to Normal Life

Denmark on Tuesday became the first European Union country to lift all restrictions on Covid-19, AFP reported. The country plans to deal with the lighter variant of Omicron, despite the record number of cases, relying on the high level of vaccination.

After the first attempt to remove all restrictions between September and November, the Scandinavian country is again abandoning face masks, health passes and limited working hours for bars and restaurants.

"I am so happy that all this will end tomorrow. It is good for city life, for nightlife, just to be able to be out longer," 17-year-old student Thea Skovgaard told AFP on the eve of the lifting of measures.

Nightclubs reopen on Tuesday when the limit on the number of people allowed for indoor gatherings ends.

There are only a few restrictions left on the country's borders for unvaccinated passengers arriving from non-Schengen countries.

Relief comes as Denmark registers about 40,000-50,000 new cases of covid-19 per day or almost one percent of the country's 5.8 million people.

"We have an extremely high range of adults vaccinated with three doses," epidemiologist Lone Simonsen of the University of Roskilde told AFP.

More than 60 percent of Danes received a third dose - a month before the health authorities' schedule - compared to the EU average of just under 45 percent.

Health officials estimate that 80 percent of the population, including those who have recently become ill, is protected against severe forms of the disease.

"As Omicron is not a serious disease for vaccinated people, we believe it is wise to remove the restrictions," Simonsen said.

The widespread use of Omicron is also expected to lead to "stronger...