(Bloomberg) -- Denmark’s government is temporarily closing the country’s borders and will bring in the military to help fight the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

The measures are needed to stem the contagion, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said at a press conference in Copenhagen on Friday.

Essential items such as food and medicine will still be allowed into the country and Danes abroad trying to re-enter will be let in, Frederiksen said. Borders will be closed until April 14.

To contact the reporter on this story: Morten Buttler in Copenhagen at mbuttler@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Christian Wienberg at cwienberg@bloomberg.net, Tasneem Hanfi Brögger

©2020 Bloomberg L.P.