PM's briefing on new #COVID19dk restrictions just beginning.

Infection rates in Denmark are too high, Mette Frederiksen says as she disinfects hands at podium.

New restrictions, extended existing restrictions and Christmas guidelines will be announced, MF says. #COVID19dk

PM is now talking through the measures that have been taken in Denmark throughout the pandemic, admits that latest measures will "hit some people hard"

"We all want to spend Christmas with those we care about": Mette Frederiksen #COVID19dk

(Current) public assembly limit of 10 people to stay in place over Christmas, private events encouraged not to exceed 10 people (this is also an existing guidance). But message is 'don't spend Christmas with more than 10 people'

National restrictions extended until 28th February #covid19dk

This means the current assembly limits, alcohol sales limits and face mask rules from October https://www.thelocal.dk/20201023/denmark-announces-new-coronavirus-restrictions-heres-what-you-need-to-know

MF now confirms local restrictions amounting to partial lockdown in 38 municipalities

I'll list the municipalities specifically shortly, but they include, as predicted, Copenhagen, Aarhus, Odense and parts of Zealand esp near capital

Local restrictions in brief: 1) School children from 5th grade upwards in the affected municipalities are to be sent home for the remainder of the year for online classes -- includes further ed, universities

2) Gyms, fitness centres, amateur sport to be closed down

3) Private companies asked to send staff home

Health minister Magnus Heunicke has now taken over and warns that epidemic situation in Denmark appears to be entering a new phase, echoing Frederiksen's comments. The PM said she expected January and February to be particularly har

These will be "some hard months", despite the expected commencement of a vaccination programme early in the new year, Heunicke says

Another important new restriction (I missed tweeting it in haste): restaurants are to be closed in the 38 affected municipalities. Takeaway business will be permitted #COVID19dk

The 38 municipalities affected by the new resrictions (1) Albertslund - Allerød - Ballerup - Brøndby - Dragør - Egedal - Faxe - Fredensborg - Frederiksberg - Frederikssund - Furesø - Gentofte - Helsingør - Herlev - Hillerød - Hvidovre - Høje-Taastrup - Halsnæs - Gribskov - Greve

The 38 municipalities affected by the new resrictions (2) Glostrup - Gladsaxe - Hørsholm - Ishøj - Copenhagen - Køge - Lejre - Lyngby-Tårbæk - Odense - Roskilde - Rudersdal - Rødovre - Slagelse - Solrød - Tårnby - Vallensbæk - Vordingborg - Aarhus

I'll stop live-tweeting here and switch to a full report of the new restrictions for @TheLocalDenmark . That will include more specific detail on what is being closed down as well as health authority guidelines for Christmas. Keep an eye on our website/Twitter.