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– Is incredible. I can’t understand why we have chosen to release the infection again, says security professor Torgrim Log at the University College of Western Norway.
Log was highly critical at Dagbladet about the authorities’ handling and lack of “precautionary measures” when the corona infection in March completely spiraled out of control.
However, the professor was reassured when the government “later” adopted intervention measures that effectively repelled the uncontrolled infection.
Log believed the authorities had found out. That they would not go at the same rate as in February when health authorities thought it was inappropriate to quarantine travelers from China and Italy upon arrival in Norway.
– not learned
– Then it happened again, as if we had not learned anything in the world. When it opened in the second half of July, authorities once again felt that it was inappropriate to quarantine travelers. They opened up to the import infection, they did it wide-eyed, and now we’re in serious trouble again, Log says and continues:
– What about the other side of this math? Was it more appropriate to release the infection?
The security expert believes that the answer to this is a resounding no and refers to the Holden committee report that concluded that a low level of infection is also best for the country’s economy.
– We were well below 10 infected per day in Norway in the first half of July. Then we open up to “green” countries with up to 10 times the Norwegian infection level, once again without quarantine. Balance on the border should give more normality. But the travelers to Norway spread a new infection across the country, Log says.
In September, he sent several letters to Norwegian health authorities, explaining his concerns about the ongoing development.
“Stick-lead-var”
– There must be an end to the authorities working for a “draft” or “glue precaution”, says the professor.
It has argued that authorities could benefit from risk management expertise under conditions of great uncertainty.
– They should bring experts in the “silk care principle” and follow the advice they receive. The standard to achieve should be the countries that are best in their class and that have really made it possible, such as Taiwan and New Zealand. In these countries, so far there are only seven and 25 deaths from covid-19, respectively, and a high degree of normality, says Log.
Secretary of State Maria Jahrmann Bjerke (H) of the Ministry of Health and Sanitary Services points out that when the first wave of infection returned both in Norway and in other European countries, the government decided that towards and during the summer a gradual and controlled reduction of the most invasive measures.
– Strict all the time
– The entry ban was replaced by a scheme where quarantine was required if the traveler came from a country with an infection situation that was above certain criteria. This was introduced for the Nordic countries as of June 15 and extended to apply to the entire EEA / Schengen area as of July 15. Threshold values to avoid the quarantine requirement have been strict all along, notes Jahrmann Bjerke.
The Secretary of State emphasizes that the goal has always been to keep the spread of infection low, according to the Holden Committee’s assessment.
She says it is important to the business community, but at the same time points out that the Norwegian business community also needs to bring in labor from abroad to keep the wheels turning.
Therefore, it has been necessary to have some special provisions on business travel. The objective has been the same, the least possible spread of the infection.
– While the spread of infection in Europe was low, few import cases were reported. With the deterioration of the infection situation in Europe during the autumn, this has changed and therefore the government considered it necessary to tighten the requirements for business travel, establish requirements for negative tests before entry, in addition quarantine requirement for travelers from “red” countries and establish a plan. with quarantine hotel, says Jahrmann Bjerke.
– Necessary
It highlights that Norway has been among the countries with the lowest prevalence of infection and the strictest entry arrangements throughout the period.
– The government is closely monitoring the situation and making changes to the requirements when necessary based on assessments carried out by the Norwegian Health Directorate and the National Institute of Public Health, says the Secretary of State.
Health director Bjørn Guldvog does not rule out that authorities perhaps should have been quicker to introduce requirements for a negative corona test result for people coming to Norway to work.
– It may have been done even earlier, but it is difficult to see exactly what kind of measures should be introduced in the different areas. Only posterity will show if we did it fast enough or not. It was at least an absolutely necessary measure to implement, says Guldvog.
