Aarhus, Denmark.
It’s nearing midnight on the last day of corona restrictions. It’s raining in the second largest city in the country, but it’s warm and crowded in a pub next to the river. At midnight the restrictions are being lifted, and the bar will be open until five in the morning.

– It’s been a long time since we were this busy, says bartender Ruben Mortensen.

It was about a week ago that the danish health ministry confirmed that from the first of February, all Corona restrictions would be lifted. It is the low number of people in intensive care that has led to the decision, along with high vaccination rates and the majority of cases being less severe.

Sarah Klemens is sitting with her sister at the bar, and she thinks it makes sense that the restrictions are being lifted.

– Yeah, it’s the right choice, she says. There’s so many vaccinated, and I think people will still have common sense.

After this evening she’s getting rid of her mask.

– I think I’ll throw it away.

End of corona?

What’s actually changing is how Denmark is choosing to classify the virus. It’s no longer categorized as a disease dangerous to society, so it won’t be treated differently from other diseases.

In another bar in Aarhus, bartender Heidi Nielsen still has to make sure the restrictions are being followed, until they close at midnight.

– It’s been hard, especially the last few weeks. And today I it feels a bit pointless, to have to tell everyone they have to have a mask, she says.

Heidi Nielsen pours a beer for guest Tobias Sievert, who thinks it’s both good and bad to end the restrictions.

–They tried before, and lifted restrictions from October til December. So maybe in the winter they might have to close up again, he says.

– In a way it makes sense, he adds, but maybe I feel like it’s too much from one day to another. Like with the mask, today it’s saving lives and tomorrow… well.