[ad_1]
What is hidden behind the surprising numbers? Oil culture, the airport fire and the end of winter vacation, create emergency management.
STAVANGER (Nettavisen Økonomi 🙂 – It is a day that I will never forget. At one point I thought I had to close the municipality alone, without the government at the back, says Kari Nessa Nordtun (Ap), mayor of Stavanger.
The 33-year-old man just sent his own children through the kindergarten gate for the first time in five weeks. The pulse has dropped a little. The shoulders hang a little lower. The oil industry is still in crisis and the nation is still in pandemic unemployment. But local infection rates have been reduced. Lower than many had dared to expect.
At Stavanger University Hospital (SUS) there are only two patients who tested positive for covid-19 and do not need respiratory help. SUS has had a total of four coronavirus-related deaths, only one from Stavanger. No one, 0, has been infected in the municipality’s nursing home.
– I’m surprised it went as it has been. Initially, I was very alarmed and feared the virus would grow larger and larger, says head of infection control Ruth Midtgarden in Stavanger Township.
The fact that the number of infections in the country’s fourth-largest city should decline so rapidly was far from obvious. On the contrary: on March 9, figures from the National Institute of Public Health showed that Rogaland had the majority of cases of infection per capita in the country. The infection mainly came from northern Italy and Austria, where many roe landers went skiing during the winter holidays.
Read more: I hope to assess all crown symptoms in May
Early information to immigrant communities.
Mayor Nordtun and City Manager Per Kristian Vareide talk about somewhat chaotic days in emergency management in the days after winter break. The frequency of the number of infected people skyrocketed at a rate that destroyed the mathematics of the Institute of Public Health, and management quickly recognized that the virus was more contagious than initially thought.
– We hardly thought of the same idea two days in a row. We changed our attitude and got more information all the time. I think the responsibility was heavy, and the decisions we made in a short time and in an uncertain way would have a great impact on the lives of the inhabitants, “says the municipal director of Vareide.
THE KEY: City Manager Per Kristian Vareide sees no reason to take off due to low infection rates: – If you’re not concerned about a second wave, you should seek help, says Vareide.
Photo: Magnus Ekeli Mullis
Read more: Sweden: – Alarming reports of congestion
At an early stage, before the government and many other municipalities, the municipality closed nursing homes for visitors and banned large events and gatherings. The cruises were stopped. Large resources for communication and infection testing were reallocated. The municipality’s crown non-medical information phone warmed up and phones came from across the country.
The communication addressed to the immigrant communities was particularly important, stresses the mayor. Stavanger is the city with the second highest proportion of immigrants among the population, behind Oslo.
– We saw how immigrants in Sweden were hit hard, and we made early contact with imams, expats and other key people in the immigrant communities in Stavanger. A mosque has more than 4,000 associate believers, making it clear that communication through the Imam was absolutely necessary, says the mayor.
Read more: 22 researchers: Sweden’s crown strategy has failed
And while the numbers continued to rise in the metro area, the trend in Stavanger and Rogaland was reversing. Although the infection rate nationwide has been 0.7, it has been 0.3 in Rogaland. Since March 31, only seven cases of infection have been reported in the oil capital.
TASTE OF THE SUN: – What distinguishes us from other major cities in Norway? We’ve probably had worse weather, which is why people have stayed, says a joker from city director Per Kristian Vareide. Here, together with the mayor Kari Nessa Nordtun (Ap), for the occasion when the weather is fine.
Photo: Magnus Ekeli Mullis
Also read: Authorities: – There will be a maximum of 15 students per teacher
Frustrated by the government
– Have you done something different from other Norwegian cities, or are they a coincidence?
– It is tempting to create a bragging story about the fantastic emergency management here in the city. But it is above all a question that citizens must follow the advice and follow the measures that have been introduced. And then we had a good dose of luck ”, says the municipal director of Vareide.
The mayor speculates that the high infection rates after the winter break may have contributed to the population taking the virus situation more seriously. Mayor Nordtun says residents have followed the municipality’s requests from day one.
– We have been completely dependent on the citizens who follow the measures. Perhaps the loyalty and discipline of the Stavanger people is related to the mindset of the oil and gas industry? The safety culture in the industry is huge, and the respect for HSE measures is excellent, says Nordtun.
HECTIC START: Kari Nessa Nordtun (Ap) had only sat for a few months as mayor when the parking lot at Sola airport caught fire in January. – The Sola fire was a good test of readiness, which may have helped us now, says Nordtun.
Photo: Magnus Ekeli Mullis
The high density of infection in the city in the days following the winter holidays caused alarm from the political leadership. The mayor says she was frustrated by the lack of action, communication and assistance from national authorities in the days leading up to March 12, when the government introduced national measures.
– We were not happy with the government’s handling, and we expressed it clearly throughout the week. At one point I thought that now we just have to close the municipality, alone or together with Bergen and Oslo, says Nordtun, adding:
– Actually, we should rely on the national system for purchasing pollution equipment, but this has not worked at all. We have only received a domestic shipment. Instead, we have purchased locally from Norengros and subcontractors.
Read more: Hairdresser: – We miss our job, but it should be safe and now you don’t feel safe
Infection Protection Consultant: – Good luck
The mayor believes that the Sola airport fire on January 7 was an important reminder of the importance of good interaction between police, fire and emergency services. With the airport fire fresh in memory, the new mayor never had a question about capacity and readiness as the number of infections began to rise.
– Are you worried about a second wave?
– If you are not concerned about a second wave, seek help. But there is a difference between rational and irrational fear. I feel like we now have a rational and healthy approach. Most of the pandemic is ahead and we can see exponential growth if we get up too early, says Vareide’s municipal director.
He is supported by the Midgarden infection control chief, who sees no reason to lower his shoulders.
– Stavanger’s figures are basically about the fact that residents have been good at meeting infection control regulations. We have a quick overview of the infected and isolates that have been positive, so the infection has not spread beyond the radar, it says protection against infection is superior.
– What do you think the trend in Stavanger is due to?
– I think Stavanger has been lucky. Those who returned home after the winter break quickly understood the seriousness and sought help. By the time the 1960s came to southern Europe, we had realized the seriousness of Norway and were able to take control. Eastern Norway had a winter break a week before us and the infection started faster, says Midtgarden.
… Read more Soring’s quarantine, war and the role of victim in Northern Norway
… Read more Crushing attack on China’s secret president making the world more dangerous
[ad_2]
