Ólavsøka ”a potential Covid-19 hazard”

If we celebrate Ólavsøka in the usual manner, with thousands of people flocking to the city centre, it could result in a complete loss of control in terms of Covid-19.

So says public health professor Pál Weihe after yesterday’s news that Tórshavn City Council has revised its recommended Ólavsøka (28-29 July) curfew for bars and nightclubs from the original 12 midnight closing time to 2am.

“The closing time itself is not the crucial aspect from a public health perspective,” he says. “Obviously, the longer these places stay open, the greater the risk of people getting drunk and throwing caution to the wind. But the general problem is that it is difficult to control big crowds gathering inside nightlife establishments.”

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Extending the curfew to 2am places significantly greater responsibility on the owners of the nightlife establishments, says Weihe, who believes that, especially if the weather conditions tempt people to flock to the bars and nightclubs, the situation can easily spiral out of control.

“A single infected person can easily become a superspreader in such scenarios, which is why I urge everyone to act responsibly and be alert at all times,” he says.

“My advice is: if these places are crowded, do not go inside.”

Translated by prosa.fo