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Deputy Director of Health, Espen Rostrup Nakstad. Photo: Ørn E. Borgen
OSLO / BUCURESTI (VG) The director of infection control in Oslo thought that the national team could travel to Romania by private plane. The Norwegian Health Directorate, on the other hand, says regulations don’t allow it.
– The Norwegian Health Directorate has not participated or carried out evaluations related to the work of monitoring infections in the national football team, it is the municipality of Oslo in the municipal doctor who has done it. However, we have specified which rules apply to the quarantine of infections in Norway, replies Deputy Director of Health Espen Rostrup Nakstad to VG.
In an email sent from the municipality of Oslo to the Norwegian Football Association, which VG has accessed, the municipality writes on Friday that the national team could travel in a so-called “closed system”.
“After a conference with Dr. Tore Steen and from Frode Hagen, it is considered that players in accordance with both the Infection Control Law and Covid regulations can travel by private plane to Romania on 11/14/20 for the next party, provided they travel as a “closed system”, writes the Municipality of Oslo in the email, which is signed by Dr. Sondre Wist Lauvdal in the section of community medicine.
“No further measures are necessary by the municipality of Oslo, beyond the monitoring of infected players who have already been treated. The national team acts in accordance with UEFA regulations, which allow such travel, “he says in the email.
Infection control doctor Tore Steen together with medical director Johan Thorper during a press conference on the decision of the Oslo municipality to cancel the 2020 Holmenkollen Ski Festival for the public Photo: Vidar Ruud
The national team was in place at Gardermoen this afternoon. The plane was loaded and would take off in an hour when the counter message arrived.
It appears in a press release from the Norwegian Football Association (NFF), signed by the team captain with Stefan Johansen, Joshua King and Martin Ødegaard.
Espen Rostrup Nakstad believes this is due to a misunderstanding.
– It is another misunderstanding that the Oslo municipal doctor has given permission to break the infection quarantine to travel to Romania and play a football game.
VG knows that the head of infection control, Tore W. Steen, clarified to the Norwegian soccer team on Friday that the exception only applies to travel home to their respective places of residence.
– As far as we know, the Oslo municipal doctor has approved transportation to his own place of residence for the 10-day quarantine period, writes Nakstad, who notes that this is in accordance with the regulations.
VG has asked Deputy Health Director Espen Rostrup Nakstad a series of questions about this case:
– What is needed for the national team to be able to play the game now?
– In this case, the regulations must be modified by the Ministry of Health and Care Services.
– Who can give exceptions? What do you need?
– The exceptions to the quarantine of infection can only be used in cases where it is necessary to avoid dangers to life and health, says Nakstad and refers to the regulations.
– Is it possible to send other players, such as a B team or a U21 team?
– The football association must respond to that.
– Guldvog said it was desirable that the athletes also be quarantined before returning to Norway. What is standing here?
– The quarantine rules when entering Norway have been tightened because the infection situation in Europe has changed. Therefore, it is desirable that even those who have exceptions to the entry quarantine when they arrive in the country are cautious.
– Why is Norway the only country in Europe that does this?
– Norway is not the only country in Europe that has strict quarantine rules. Both quarantine upon entry and after close contact with sick people are strictly enforced in many countries and in accordance with the recommendations of the World Health Organization.
– How dangerous is it for young athletes (who are not in the risk group) to travel completely isolated from the country? If you don’t know someone who is.
– It is not particularly dangerous for them, but they can infect others who become more seriously ill and can contribute to a further spread of the infection abroad in the same way that in Norway during the last month we have had several outbreaks abroad.
– Romania welcomes Norway. Does this have something to do with evaluation?
– The assessment of whether a person should be quarantined in Norway is based on the result of infection detection work carried out by the municipality in accordance with the covid-19 regulation. The Norwegian Health Directorate has not carried out assessments of who are close contacts and not in this case, but we have clarified what is established in the covid-19 regulations on quarantine of infections.
– Why didn’t the Norwegian Health Directorate help clarify this earlier?
– The Norwegian Health Directorate has specified these rules repeatedly for a long time, whenever questions have arisen from the Football Association.
– The UEFA protocol is well signed and approved. It was written when the situation was different, but is it the NFF’s job to check if it still applies?
– It is the NFF’s job to follow current Norwegian laws and regulations, as well as other organizations and employers. The exceptions in the UEFA protocol apply to the exceptions to the 1 meter rule and the entry quarantine in relation to the practice of high-level football. The UEFA Protocol does not regulate the quarantine obligation for infection contacts. This is regulated in Norwegian law through covid-19 regulations, and the NFF has been made aware of this several times.
