While several European countries proceed with vaccine passport implementation and increasingly tyrannical lockdowns, Denmark is bucking the trend and following the province of Alberta’s suit.

Danish health officials will remove every restriction currently imposed in two weeks, saying that COVID-19 is no longer “a critical threat to society.”

“The epidemic is under control; we have record vaccination levels. That is why, on September 10, we can lift the special rules we had to introduce in the fight against COVID-19,” Health Minister Magnus Heunicke said.

Citing a high vaccination rate of 80 percent of citizens over the age of 12, Danish officials believe that this figure is enough to ensure its citizens can freely participate in society. Moreover, the government stated that vaccine passports would no longer be required when attending events, businesses, restaurants, etc.

“It is the good Danish epidemic management that makes this possible, and I want to say thank you to everyone involved for a gigantic job,” he said.

However, while freedom is returning to the Danes for now, Heunicke says that the government “will not hesitate to act quickly if the pandemic once again threatens the essential functioning of society.”

The government will also enforce a separate set of restrictions for travellers wishing to visit Denmark; though, these restrictions will expire in October, at which point they will likely be reviewed and revised. Additionally, Danish citizens will still need to abide by other European nations’ COVID-related laws when wishing to travel.

Meanwhile, in Canada, three provinces have begun to phase in additional restrictions and implement a vaccine passport system, despite 64 percent of Canadians receiving two doses and 80 percent receiving one dose as of last month.

PM Justin Trudeau also announced that he had secured more vaccines in the case of additional doses, so-called “booster shots,” being required, suggesting that vaccine passports and restrictions will be around for a long time yet.