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On the first day of Christmas, 21 new cases of infection were registered in the municipality of Skien. It is the hardest hit municipality in the Grenlands area.
Since December 22, 82 cases of covid-19 have been registered in the municipality.
The wave of infections has led to several employees from four different nursing homes being quarantined. Additional personnel have been deployed. At the Gulseth nursing home, quarantined employees are still being asked to work.
– We are in a situation of staff pressure and we must do this to ensure proper functioning during Christmas days, says Skien municipal chief doctor Vegard Høgli,
Therefore, quarantined employees must report to work with a full infection control team.
– It’s a burden, but the employees have dealt with it well. They have done everything possible to help our inhabitants, says Høgli.
Warns
The municipality of Skien has chosen to use the emergency clause in the covid-19 regulations. Provides exceptions to quarantine rules for nursing home employees.
Union leader Mette Nord is skeptical about circumventing quarantine rules.
– There is a reason why there is a 10-day quarantine, even if some have no symptoms.
He cautions against resolving staffing the way Skien Township has done. Nord believes that municipalities should plan better because these situations can arise whether it is Christmas or not.
Try twice
The union leader in Skien, Elisabeth Timland, has received no comment from employees who must return to work.
– They have been tested twice. None of those at work show symptoms, he says.
He believes that they will contact the shop stewards if they feel pressured to work.
Lots of infection in the Grenlands area
Infection in the Grenlands area is increasing. Since December 22, a total of 125 cases of infection have been registered in the municipalities.
The highest number so far in Skien in one day came on December 22. At that time, 41 new cases were registered. Little Christmas Eve there were 15 cases, Christmas Eve 15 and 1st day of Christmas 21 new infected.
Porsgrunn has 35 infected in the last four days, and in the municipality of Bamble there have been eight new cases of infection.
At the same time, there may be undetected cases.
– The low number compared to the beginning of the week does not necessarily mean a real decrease. Today, the laboratory has analyzed few samples, reports the municipality of Porsgrunn.
Tracking infections in close contacts
Skien Township prioritizes tracing infections from close contacts until after the New Year.
Until January 4, it is not possible to book an appointment for the corona test online. According to the municipality, close contacts will be contacted.
– Most of those infected are close contacts of known cases. That’s why we use the ability to follow close contacts, says Høgli.
