Denmark has officially entered a partial shut-down for the next two weeks in an effort to halt the spread of COVID-19 infection, said Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen at a press conference Wednesday evening.

All public-sector employees with the exception of health and security personnel are given a two-week period of paid leave, and private employers are urged to have their staff work from home if possible.

Registered cases of coronavirus infection have multiplied more than tenfold since Monday. As of Wednesday evening, the number of confirmed cases was 514.

"We are now in a new situation, and that's why we're taking some quite drastic precautionary steps," Frederiksen said.

Such measures include banning groups of more than 100 people.

English Edit: Daniel Frank Christensen

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