Denmark plans negative virus test requirement for foreign workers
Last week, 172 people from Poland tested positive for the coronavirus in Denmark, the Employment Ministry said.
Denmark plans to introduce a requirement that temporary foreign workers arriving from countries with high rates of the coronavirus present a negative test for the virus on entry, the government said on Saturday.
The negative test must be made no more than 72 hours before travelling to Denmark, the Employment Ministry said.
"The requirement would apply for employees from high-risk countries," said Peter Hummelgaard, the employment minister.
The high-risk category would be based on the recently proposed EU system for coronavirus-related travel restrictions, with regions marked green, orange or red depending on the intensity of coronavirus transmission.
Most countries in Europe were red under the definition, according to the ministry.
The move was part of efforts to stem the spread of the virus.
Danish health authorities have linked several local outbreaks to migrant workers employed in the construction industry and at meat-processing plants.
Polish workers
Last week, 172 people from Poland tested positive for the coronavirus in Denmark, the Employment Ministry said.
Exemptions from tests would apply for employees who commute daily and those involved in deliveries of important goods such as medicine and food.
The government said it would discuss the possibility of ordering mandatory tests with employers' organizations and unions.
Other measures included setting up mobile test stations at large workplaces and living quarters for foreign workers. The Danish Working Environment Authority would be tasked with conducting more inspections of workplaces with many foreign workers.
On Saturday, the Danish public health institute SSI reported 789 new coronavirus cases over the last 24 hours, slightly down from the record 859 cases from Friday.