– The people of Oslo have been good – VG

The City Council decided today to open the alcoholic drinks service in Oslo starting Wednesday May 6, the head of the city council Raymond Johansen (AP) and the business council Victoria Marie Evensen (Ap) report to VG.

“It is natural for us, with the confidence we have for the business community and city residents, that we have a controlled opening to serve alcohol,” says the leader of the Oslo city council.

He says that the people of Oslo have been good and points out that the number of infections that must be below one for the virus not to spread has fallen to 0.88 in the capital.

– That we take care, show solidarity and keep our distance, has been important, says Raymond Johansen.

The Industry Council, Victoria Marie Evensen, says that the municipality and the industry it serves together have developed clear and clear rules on how the donation should be made.

– The industry is committed to being open, but it is also responsible. I think they will handle this in a good way and help ensure proper opening of the alcohol portion, with a view to preventing infection, says Evensen.

Here are the requirements.

Such are the municipal requirements to serve and serve places in the capital. The requirements are the same inside and out:

• waiter
• More than five people should not be in a group unless they are part of the same household
• There should be two meters of space between different groups of guests, or an equivalent solution that provides at least the same protection (for example, partitions)
• Service and service locations should, as far as possible, ensure that there is at least a meter of distance between all guests.
• Service hours until 23.30 and opening hours until 24.00
• Only those who have registered with the Nutrition Agency can serve alcohol.
• A separate risk assessment for infection control will be prepared.

When donation is only allowed in nightclubs that serve food, it is related to the covid-19 regulation of the Health Directorate of March 12, which establishes measures to prevent infection throughout the country.

Pizza and baguettes are good

It establishes that all service places must be closed, to avoid the spread of the infection. Except where food is served, which could allow guests to stay at least a meter away.

– We embark on a broad interpretation of food offerings. If you are a small beer bar that can meet all the demands that we otherwise make and have an agreement with the pizzeria next door, you can stay open.

– If you just finished the stained baguettes, will you be able to serve beer?

– You will do it. We don’t go in and control the food supply this way, says the Evensen business council.

– Extremely demanding

The city council leader says the service industry is willing to follow the guidelines.

“We are well aware of how extremely demanding the industry has been in recent weeks, for all employees and for people who have invested in and depend on, among other things, the alcoholic beverage service,” says Johansen.

The Industry Agency emphasizes that it is important that guests are also aware of their responsibilities.

“We still have to keep our distance and be careful not to go in the wrong direction,” says Evensen.

Raymond Johansen expects a moderate influx to downtown Oslo on National Day.

– We still do not encourage people to take public transport or invite large family businesses. The usual departure we hope will not happen. By In large meetings, the risk of infection will increase.

– Are you waiting for the first outing?

– I’ve already taken it – on the front porch. It’s out there, and, Johansen laughs.

Tighter in Oslo

Oslo already tightened the rules on March 13: the municipality decided that there should be no more than 50 people on the premises and that the service places had to close at 21.

The following week, the business and the police controlled over 400 places to eat in Oslo. The conclusion was that a meter distance between guests was almost impossible to fulfill in practice.

“This is also true in places where there are very few people on the premises, and where service places have tried to make arrangements to comply with regulations, such as signs and tables,” according to the Oslo City Council.

Because many people sat closer than regulations indicate, the City Council decided to ban all alcoholic beverages in Oslo from March 21. The infection control superior had also recommended that decisions be made to ban alcohol.

– No rocket investigation

City Council leader Raymond Johansen (Ap) commented on the closure on April 17:

– It is not rocket research that people who are a little bit choppy and hang in the bar or stand in line at the toilet may not be aware of the restrictions and rules that are there in the first place.

A few weeks later, Johansen explains why he thinks it will work today:

– We did not realize the seriousness at that time. It has slowed down as we receive global death figures and watch the sunrise in Norway. It’s a completely different mindset today. Infectious development also shows that we have much better control.

– It’s time

Employer organization Virke CEO Ivar Horneland Kristensen says he is pleased that the hospitality industry in Oslo will soon be able to carry out safe infection prevention under the same conditions as in the rest of the country.

– It is high time that the service industry in Oslo has an opportunity to ensure that companies survive and thus secure the jobs of employees, says Kristensen.

He says the donation ban for many companies has ripped apart the financial buffer.

– Many have to fight to keep their heads above water in the future. Now, the city of Oslo must provide the hospitality industry with stable operating conditions and seize the opportunity to further help the industry, says the Virke manager.

Kristensen believes that a good move will be to provide more outdoor seating and reduce the rental price on the street.

The city of Oslo notes that closed restaurants don’t have to pay rent on the street.