COPENHAGEN: As many as 214 people have been infected with a mutated coronavirus strain that has been linked to minks in Denmark from June to mid-October, the country's Ekstra Bladet newspaper reported on Friday, citing a research institute.
More than a quarter million Danes went into lockdown in the northern region of the country where the mutated variation of the coronavirus has infected minks being farmed for their fur, leading to an order to kill millions of the animals.
The newspaper cited the Statens Serum Institute, based in Copenhagen, which said that the mutated form of the virus had been found in 214 people, with 200 of these individuals based in the North Jutland region.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told reporters on Wednesday that a mutated strain of coronavirus, which was identified on mink farms in the north of the country, had subsequently spread to humans.
In seven northern Denmark municipalities with some 280,000 residents sport and cultural activities have been suspended, public transportation has been stopped and regional borders have been closed. Only people with so-called “critical functions” such as police and health officials and different authorities are being permitted to cross municipal boundaries.
People in the region have been urged to to be tested. As of Saturday, restaurants must close, and school students from fifth grade and up will switch to remote learning Monday.
Denmark is the world's largest producer of mink fur. Cases of the coronavirus disease have also been identified at mink farms in other countries, including the Netherlands and Spain, since the start of the pandemic.
Last month, Denmark started culling millions of minks in the north of the country after Covid-19 infections were reported among the stock there. Nationwide, at least 216 out of the 1,139 fur farms in Denmark have now been infected.
The coronavirus evolves constantly and, to date, there is no evidence that any of the mutations pose an increased danger to people.
Kaare Moelbak of Statens Serum Institut, a government agency that maps the coronavirus in Denmark, said the virus variant was registered in August and September, and no mutations have been found since, so it was not known if it “still exists."
Danish fur farmers have said the cull may spell the end of the industry in the country.
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