Today in Denmark: A roundup of the news on Friday
The need for foreign workers, an encouraging Covid snapshot, and incorrigible football fans are among the top news stories in Denmark on Friday.
Labour crisis: 'we will need many more foreigners'
Unmet demand for labour in both private businesses and the public sector has reached a crisis point, according to an appeal to the government to reach a broader labour agreement.
The municipalities will need 44,000 additional employees by 2030, the National Association of Municipalities says. Meanwhile, Danish businesses could hire 38,000 new workers immediately, according to the Confederation of Danish Industry (Dansk Industri), which represents the interests of about 19,000 Danish companies.
Lars Sandahl Sørensen, managing director of DI, firmly believes the answer to the labour shortage lies outside Danish borders.
"We will need many more foreigners," Sørensen told Finans. "It is not about getting cheap labour, but about getting people at all. We are in a situation where we do not have employees to carry out the things on green change that we have already decided and that we would like on health and welfare."
READ MORE: How can you get a work permit in Denmark if you aren't an EU national?
Encouraging Covid snapshot
The latest report from the State's Serum Institute, the Danish infectious disease agency, says declining viral loads in the wastewater system suggest there's a lower burden of infection in the country.
Confirmed cases were down 19 percent between the week of July 11th to the week of July 18th, but since the number of PCR tests administered also decreased 15 percent that's to be taken with a grain of salt.
In the same period, new Covid hospital admissions fell nearly a quarter, with a significant decline in the elderly population.
Omicron sub-variant BA.5 is still responsible for the lion's share of Covid cases in Denmark, accounting for 92 percent of positive results in the week of July 18th.
READ MORE: Which Covid self-tests should you buy (and avoid) in Denmark?
Football fans send two to emergency room
The double penalty zone authorities established around Brøndby stadium wasn't enough to prevent more trips to the hospital.
According to a press release from the Western Copenhagen Police, a group of Brøndby fans "stampeded" one of the stadium entrances prior to the club's UEFA Conference League qualification match against Swiss side Basel last night. Three stadium stewards were injured, two of whom went to the emergency room.
It's unclear whether anyone has been charged in connection with the incident, but police are seeking additional information from anyone who may have witnessed the stampede at 7:12pm.
Dreary weather to end summer holidays
This weekend, the last holiday hurrah before many children return to school on Monday, won't feel much like summer, according to the Danish Meteorological Institute.
"There will be little or no sun and a few showers" with temperatures between 17 and 22 degrees says DMI meteorologist Mette Wagner.
It's a dramatic shift from Thursday, when the 30 degree weather was swept away by a strong rainstorm that dampened an Ed Sheeran concert in Copenhagen.
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Labour crisis: 'we will need many more foreigners'
Unmet demand for labour in both private businesses and the public sector has reached a crisis point, according to an appeal to the government to reach a broader labour agreement.
The municipalities will need 44,000 additional employees by 2030, the National Association of Municipalities says. Meanwhile, Danish businesses could hire 38,000 new workers immediately, according to the Confederation of Danish Industry (Dansk Industri), which represents the interests of about 19,000 Danish companies.
Lars Sandahl Sørensen, managing director of DI, firmly believes the answer to the labour shortage lies outside Danish borders.
"We will need many more foreigners," Sørensen told Finans. "It is not about getting cheap labour, but about getting people at all. We are in a situation where we do not have employees to carry out the things on green change that we have already decided and that we would like on health and welfare."
READ MORE: How can you get a work permit in Denmark if you aren't an EU national?
Encouraging Covid snapshot
The latest report from the State's Serum Institute, the Danish infectious disease agency, says declining viral loads in the wastewater system suggest there's a lower burden of infection in the country.
Confirmed cases were down 19 percent between the week of July 11th to the week of July 18th, but since the number of PCR tests administered also decreased 15 percent that's to be taken with a grain of salt.
In the same period, new Covid hospital admissions fell nearly a quarter, with a significant decline in the elderly population.
Omicron sub-variant BA.5 is still responsible for the lion's share of Covid cases in Denmark, accounting for 92 percent of positive results in the week of July 18th.
READ MORE: Which Covid self-tests should you buy (and avoid) in Denmark?
Football fans send two to emergency room
The double penalty zone authorities established around Brøndby stadium wasn't enough to prevent more trips to the hospital.
According to a press release from the Western Copenhagen Police, a group of Brøndby fans "stampeded" one of the stadium entrances prior to the club's UEFA Conference League qualification match against Swiss side Basel last night. Three stadium stewards were injured, two of whom went to the emergency room.
It's unclear whether anyone has been charged in connection with the incident, but police are seeking additional information from anyone who may have witnessed the stampede at 7:12pm.
Dreary weather to end summer holidays
This weekend, the last holiday hurrah before many children return to school on Monday, won't feel much like summer, according to the Danish Meteorological Institute.
"There will be little or no sun and a few showers" with temperatures between 17 and 22 degrees says DMI meteorologist Mette Wagner.
It's a dramatic shift from Thursday, when the 30 degree weather was swept away by a strong rainstorm that dampened an Ed Sheeran concert in Copenhagen.
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