Authorities in Denmark announced a lockdown in some areas over the a coronavirus mutation found in mink that can spread to humans.
The government s warned that the effectiveness of any future vaccine could be affected by the mutation.
Bars, restaurants, public transport and all public indoor sports will be closed in seven North Jutland municipalities.
The restrictions will come into effect from Friday and initially last until 3 December.
It comes soon after an announcement that Denmark would cull all its mink, about 17 million.
The Scandinavian country is the world’s biggest producer of mink fur and its main export markets are China and Hong Kong. Culling began late last month, after many mink cases were detected.
On Thursday, the World Health Organization said mink appear to be “good reservoirs” of coronavirus. It also commended Denmark’s “determination and courage” for going ahead with the culls, despite the economic impact it would bring.
Coronavirus cases have been detected in other farmed mink in the Netherlands and Spain since the pandemic began in Europe.
But cases are spreading fast in Denmark and at least five cases of the new virus strain were found. Authorities said 12 people had been infected with the mutated strain.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Magnus Heunicke said about half of the 783 human cases reported in north Denmark related to a strain of the virus that originated in the mink farms.
At a press conference, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said: “Right now the eyes of the world are resting on us. I hope and believe that together we can solve the problems we face.”
On Wednesday, Ms Frederiksen said the mutated virus had been found to weaken the body’s ability to form antibodies, potentially making the current vaccines under development for Covid-19 ineffective.
In July, Spain culled 100,000 mink after cases were detected at a farm in Aragón province, and tens of thousands of the animals were slaughtered in the Netherlands following outbreaks on farms there.