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RESTAURANT REGISTRATION EVALUATION: Health Councilor Robert Steen explains what new measures the Oslo City Council is considering. Photographed here during a press conference at Bryn’s closed fire station in early September. Photo: Heiko Junge
The municipality of Oslo announced on Friday that it is considering stricter measures in the municipality after a recent spike in infection. The health council is now highlighting the registration of restaurant guests and the fewest number of people allowed in meetings as possible measures.
– The increase in infections is worrying, but it is important to note that we have good control of the situation. The municipality of Oslo has a high testing capacity and good systems to track and isolate infected people, Councilor Raymond Johansen stated in a press release.
Health Councilor Robert Steen in the Oslo municipality says it will be natural to look to Bergen and what measures have had a positive effect there when Oslo considers new measures. More specifically, it will sometimes seek to reduce to ten the recommendation that 20 people be allowed to meet at private events.
Oslo will also consider introducing a requirement to register for restaurants and bars, similar to Bergen.
Most important existing advice
– There will be several things that will form the basis for which we will introduce measurements. We must see if the measures will have the same effect in Oslo and we must look at the infection situation, says Robert Steen.
The Health Council states that Bergen and Oslo have had roughly the same number of infections, but since Oslo has a larger population, the pressure for infection has been higher in Bergen.
It points out that the most important thing is that people follow the advice and the existing rules.
– The government advice on the use of masks in public transport may not have been applied well enough. We may not have been good enough, he says.
Steen emphasizes that the municipality, together with FHI and the Norwegian Health Directorate, is closely monitoring the situation.
– Not out of control
In an interview with NRK on Friday, Deputy Health Director Espen Nakstad said “It is not unlikely that Oslo will be among the reddest cities in Europe if development continues as it is now.”
– I don’t think the people of Oslo fully understand the seriousness. Infection rates are high. Oslo is not unlikely to be among the reddest cities in all of Europe if development continues as it is now.
Health Councilor Robert Steen emphasizes that the municipality has good testing capacity, has managed to track infections and has quarantined close contacts.
– That way, we have a situation where we think we have a good overview, he says.
However, Steen emphasizes that this does not mean that they are able to find the route of infection for everyone. On Thursday, the chief infection control physician, Frode Hagen, told VG that between 30 and 40 percent of those infected have unknown routes of infection.
– The opposite of being in control is that it is out of control. We’re not there, says Steen.
The main challenge for the people of Oslo is remembering to keep the “meter,” Steen notes.
– The way we align ourselves and maintain social distance will be crucial, he emphasizes.
