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On Wednesday morning, Norway woke up with a sad history of infections. For the first time, more than 1,000 people have been infected in one day.
With 1,156 new cases of infection recorded, including an infection record in Oslo of 495, it was not a good day for Health Minister Bent Høie.
– Now we set records that none of us want to set, says Høie during today’s press conference on the status of the crown.
Children alarm
Fear of 400 admissions a week
– We are in a third wave. FHI’s weekly report shows 5,337 new infections last week. This is the highest number in a week since the pandemic began, Høie says.
The Health Minister claims that the number of corona patients admitted to the hospital is increasing.
– We have made plans to deal with this. The municipalities themselves or the government quickly introduce strict measures where the infection is high or where there is a great risk of spreading the infection, Høie says.
The director of the National Institute of Public Health, Camilla Stoltenberg, also expresses concern about this development. He fears that the number of admissions will double in 2-3 weeks.
– I don’t have all the numbers in front of me, but the last model that also showed R numbers of 1.4 nationally, and shows around 1.3 for Oslo and Viken, and it’s increasing. If it continues like this, without us being able to change the curve, there will be 400 admissions in two weeks from now. 400 new admissions in a week, against I think it was 193 last week.
There are still great differences in the infection situation in Norway. The government wants to avoid as much as possible strict restrictions in areas with low infection pressure.
Høie emphasizes that short-term measures can be implemented if multiple outbreaks occur across the country.
Pfizer with good news
Discourage domestic travel
Health director Bjørn Guldvog says many are concerned.
– Therefore, a coordinated effort must be made both in Oslo and in Viken and in other parts of the country to win the battle we are in.
Many municipalities report problems with TISK capacity, among other things.
– If municipalities lose the ability to track the infection, it results in uncontrolled and hidden spread. It’s serious that so many reports of problems with TISK – testing, isolation, infection tracking, and quarantine – says Guldvog.
Regarding the national councils before the Easter holidays, Guldvog says:
– The general recommendation to avoid traveling, also within the country, applies to Easter, he says.
The government also discourages all travel abroad that is not strictly necessary.
If you are traveling on Easter, he recommends traveling only with people you live with or someone close to you, like a girlfriend.
– Make purchases before traveling, limit contact with other people on the trip and avoid public transport if possible. If you come from a municipality with regional measures or local regulations, and these measures are stricter than the measures that apply to the place you are going, you must follow the strictest rules.
Guldvog also recommends avoiding visits to areas that have a high level of infection, as well as avoiding visiting places that are difficult to stay away from.
Fear of the opposite effect
Review the possible side effects of the vaccine
NIPH Director Camilla Stoltenberg comments on the AstraZeneca vaccine and possible serious side effects that are now being investigated.
– It was a very difficult decision to put the show on hiatus and we would like to avoid it. But in our opinion, the decision was the right one and has withstood the test of time.
FHI and the Norwegian Medicines Agency are reviewing and evaluating all reports of suspected side effects after vaccination. Reports of blood clots and bleeding are given priority.
The National Institute of Public Health performs analyzes on the registries, where we compare the incidence of blood clots and bleeding in people who have been vaccinated with that of unvaccinated people.
– Regardless of what reaches the European Medicines Agency and the Medicines Agency in Norway, FHI, which is responsible for the national coronary vaccination program, will make an independent assessment of whether we will continue to offer this vaccine in the program in Norway, says Stoltenberg .
Høie assures that the plan to vaccinate adults during the summer is underway, given by Pfizer and Moderna does not find new and unforeseen problems.
This means measuring level A
R number increased to 1.4
The deputy director of health, Espen Rostrup Nakstad, was not surprised by the infection records.
– It’s as expected. This R number has been above 1.3, in Oslo closer to 1.5. It’s mathematically exactly as expected, unfortunately, he told Dagbladet TV on Wednesday morning.
On Monday, the Oslo City Council introduced the most stringent infection control measures for the capital. All of Viken County, as well as Gran Township in the interior, were drastically tightened at the same time and moved to the strictest level of government measures.
The question is, according to Nakstad, whether this is enough to reduce the infection. One of the main challenges in the coming weeks will be keeping the R number as low as possible.
According to FHI, the R number is now 1.4. Last week, the spawn rate was 1.3. The infection increases more among children. There is also one Increasing trend of new income in all age groups between 30 and 79 years.
– There is probably a danger that the infection will increase in the next few days, until the measures take effect, Nakstad said, adding that it is not known how long the number of infections will increase before it changes.
