Westerners must be able to trust that austerity measures are truly critical

This is the volunteer work that nobody wanted. But if we trust each other, it will still work.

Manager

This is a leader. The editorial expresses Bergens Tidende’s advertising idea: an independent, independent, liberal and bourgeois (non-socialist) political party newspaper.

Friday, notify the town hall in Bergen tough new austerity measures. Both cultural and sports life are hardening considerably. There can be a maximum of 20 people at the events. And the new rule is two meters in stores.

The reason is simple: the infection rate in the Bergen area is too high. In the last 24 hours, the number was 103 new registered cases, and Bergen still saw new records of infection.

Now we all have to Let’s do what we can to limit the infection in society. Those who will notice the measurements best are those who are avid users of nightlife, cultural facilities, and fitness facilities.

This may not be the group that is at risk if they become infected. They have to attend the charity event anyway. We have no choice.

This time, the city council has given priority to protecting children and young people as much as possible. It’s good. This group should be able to go to kindergarten, school and have a minimum of leisure activities. The rest of us must act so that the youngest are not victims of further closure.

But also in times of crisis it is important that each measure is well founded.

Hans Fredrik Marthinussen, professor of law at the University of Bergen, criticizes the rule of a maximum of five people in the home. He thinks that this measure is too poor a basis, all the time private and family life has a special protection.

Marthinussen also notes that this measure, like all the others, has been introduced both in Bergen and the surrounding municipalities, apparently without an independent evaluation.

It’s a big one Difference in political decisions about activity in the community and between the four walls of the home. Here, the city council must clarify the legal basis of the measure.

In Oslo there will be no introduced a total ban on alcoholic beverages and all indoor events will be banned. It seems like an easier measure for industries to handle.

When you ask big stadiums in Bergen with hundreds of seats to play for 20 people, there is no economy in it. They probably would have had an easier job if it was the municipality that closed completely.

Nobody knows how long these measures will last, but it is quite clear that intervention measures will not. But for support to remain high over time, Bergen residents need and are confident that the measures are right.