Denmark to mandate use of face masks on public transport

Alarming increases of COVID-19 infections have prompted the Danish government to make it mandatory to wear face masks on public transport nationwide for travelers over the age of 12

"We are now introducing a requirement that you must wear a face mask on public transport at all hours of the day, not just during rush hour. This requirement will take effect in a week, from August 22," said Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen at a press conference in the PM's office on Saturday.

The decision follows a recommendation from the National Board of Health and their concerns over an upsurge of infection rates registered throughout Denmark in past weeks.

"Now we are seriously in the process of what we call the dance with coronavirus, living with coronavirus in daily life," said Frederiksen, urging the people to be prepared to take tougher measures, if necessary, to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

A record 34,117 COVID-19 tests had been carried out in Denmark during the past 24 hours, which had detected 104 new infections.