COVID-19 pandemic in Greenland

COVID-19 in Greenland
DiseaseCOVID-19
Virus strainSARS-CoV-2
LocationGreenland
Index caseNuuk
Arrival date16 March 2020
(4 years, 8 months and 2 days)
Confirmed cases11,971[1] (updated 17 November 2024)
Recovered11,950[2]
Deaths
21[1] (updated 17 November 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]

  1. ^ a b Mathieu, Edouard; Ritchie, Hannah; Rodés-Guirao, Lucas; Appel, Cameron; Giattino, Charlie; Hasell, Joe; Macdonald, Bobbie; Dattani, Saloni; Beltekian, Diana; Ortiz-Ospina, Esteban; Roser, Max (2020–2024). "Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19)". Our World in Data. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  2. ^ "COVID - Coronavirus Statistics - Worldometer". Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference GLfirst was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "Coronavirus-ip nutaap siaruarnera malinnaaffigiuk" (in Danish and Kalaallisut). Archived from the original on 10 January 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  5. ^ "Nyt tilfælde af corona opdaget i Aasiaat" (in Danish). Sermitsiaq. 24 May 2020. Archived from the original on 10 January 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  6. ^ "Coronasmitte opdaget i Ilulissat" (in Danish). Sermitsiaq. 27 May 2020. Archived from the original on 10 January 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  7. ^ "Total Coronavirus Cases in Greenland". worldometers. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  8. ^ "Landslæge:- En stor del af Grønland vil blive smittet i den kommende tid" (in Danish). Kalaallit Nunaata Radioa. 4 January 2022. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  9. ^ "Daily corona numbers - 2022-01-10". 10 January 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  10. ^ "Dagens Coronatal: 524 nye smittede - ny rekord" (in Danish). Kalaallit Nunaata Radioa. 11 January 2022. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  11. ^ "Smittetal - 2022-02-02" (in Danish). 2 February 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  12. ^ "Vaccines". 14 February 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  13. ^ "Greenland: WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard With Vaccination Data". covid19.who.int. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  14. ^ "Første Coronadødsfald: Ældre mand i Upernavik afgået ved døden" (in Danish). 20 November 2021. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  15. ^ "Corona" (in Danish). Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  16. ^ "Smittetal - 2022-02-18" (in Danish). 18 February 2022. Retrieved 18 February 2022.