COVID-19 in Greenland | |
---|---|
Disease | COVID-19 |
Virus strain | SARS-CoV-2 |
Location | Greenland |
Index case | Nuuk |
Arrival date | 16 March 2020 (4 years, 5 months and 3 days) |
Confirmed cases | 11,971[1] (updated 17 August 2024) |
Recovered | 11,950[2] |
Deaths | 21[1] (updated 17 August 2024) |
Government website | |
https://corona.nun.gl/da/ |
The COVID-19 pandemic in Greenland was a part of the ongoing worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The virus was confirmed to have spread to Greenland, an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, in March 2020.[3] As of 27 May 2020, there had been 13 confirmed cases, but none were in need of hospitalization. Among the first 11, the last infected person had recovered on 8 April 2020, and after that, Greenland has had no known active cases.[4] After a period of time without any new confirmed cases, one was confirmed on 24 May when a person tested positive at the entry into the territory,[5] and another (unrelated to the 24 May case) was confirmed at entry on 27 May 2020.[6]
The number of new COVID-19 cases remained very low and sporadic throughout the rest of 2020 and the first half of 2021 but rose sharply in July 2021. Whereas Greenland had only had a total of 50 known COVID-19 cases between 16 March 2020 and 1 July 2021, the number had more than doubled to 122 by 1 August 2021 and reached 2,611 on 31 December 2021.[7]
Authorities stated on 4 January 2022 that a considerable part of Greenland would be infected over the coming period of time and that they would attempt to ensure this did not happen to too many people simultaneously.[8]
On 10 January 2022, there were a record number of 2,718 active cases in Greenland, with the majority (1,806) located in Sermersooq municipality. Despite this, only 8 cases required hospitalization.[9] The current number of active cases was no longer published after this date.[10]
The total number of confirmed cases, confirmed through PCR-testing, was no longer published after 1 February 2022, as authorities stated cases found through PCR-testing no longer reflected the real extent of the overall spread of COVID-19 in Greenland.[11]
As of 14 March 2022, 68% of the population had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.[12] A total of 79,738 vaccine doses have been administered.[13]
On 20 November 2021, the first COVID-19 related death was reported in Greenland.[14] By 8 April 2022, a total of 21 people had died while infected with COVID-19.[15]
Of the first 12 registered deaths, 8 were primarily caused by COVID-19, though there were also other contributing factors. The average age of the deceased was 80.3 years, with the youngest being 68 and the oldest being 92 years of age.[16]
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