Denmark lifts COVID restrictions, but Hamilton doctor says it’s too soon for Canada

A Hamilton infectious disease specialist says it is too soon for Canada to follow in the footsteps of four European countries that are lifting COVID-19 restrictions.

The UK, Denmark, Ireland and the Netherlands announced over the past two weeks that they are scrapping most pandemic measures.

“We’re still fairly high in our wave and I think those countries have seen their decline,” Dr. Zain Chagla said in an interview on Morning Live Friday.

Authorities in the UK got rid of their mask mandate in stores and on public transit yesterday, as well as scrapping their vaccine passports.

On Wednesday, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said that as of Feb. 1 Danes will enjoy free access to restaurants, cafes, museums and nightclubs without wearing a mask. The government will only recommend mask use in hospitals, health care facilities and homes for the elderly.

In Ireland, officials decided to relax their COVID-19 restrictions on Jan. 22. Residents are still required to wear masks in stores and on public transit until the end of February.

The Netherlands dropped their public health measures on Wednesday, allowing bars, restaurants, museums, theatres and other venues to reopen.

While most hospitals and intensive care units in Canada are still at capacity, Chagla said a sustainable path forward is needed for the country.

“In the months to come– especially as much of the population gets their boosters, Omicron and immunity– there will be more control in the population to make sure that we don’t see these surges, and we have things like therapeutics to help with the highest-risk populations,” he said.

Chagla pointed to an announcement yesterday when Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore said it’s time to “learn to live with COVID-19.”