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Asker and Bærum are closing gyms and pubs.
This is what the municipalities say in a press release on Wednesday.
After receiving a strong recommendation from the national health authorities based on the excessive mobility of society, the mayors today summon the presidencies for an extraordinary meeting.
– We recommend closing gyms and pubs with immediate effect, after having received a clear recommendation from the health authorities. We also see that open gyms and liquor-licensed restaurants mean we can’t live up to what’s most important now, meaning that we should all stay home as long as possible, says Mayor Lisbeth Hammer Krog in Bærum and Mayor Lene Conradi in Asker.
They add that there is now too much mobility in society.
– We invite the presidency of the municipalities to change our regulations so that we are almost like Oslo. It also means closing down places where people gather for activities, such as swimming pools, bowling, and the like, mayors say.
– This has very unfortunate consequences for the industries, but we are forced to follow the clear message of the national health authorities, they add.
The municipalities summon their respective presidencies for meetings today in 15.
– We invite the presidency of the municipalities to change our regulations so that we are almost like Oslo. It also means closing down places where people gather for activities, such as swimming pools, bowling and the like, mayors say.
They point out that this has very regrettable consequences for industries, but that they feel compelled to follow the clear message of the national health authorities.
– Our message is: Stay home as long as possible and reduce the number of close contacts, the mayors say in the press release.
The deputy director of health, Espen Rostrup Nakstad, called on the citizens of Oslo to find alternative ways of exercising and not to go to gymnasiums in neighboring municipalities.
Since Tuesday, gyms in Oslo have had to remain closed as a measure to prevent further spread of the infection in the capital.
Oslo cinemas, theaters, swimming pools, playgrounds and the like must also be closed; also, there is a full bar in town.
Several municipalities around Oslo chose to follow the measures of the capital, with the exception of Asker and Bærum. Gyms and discos are open there.
The training chains Fresh Fitness and Sats have chosen to prepare for the possibility of a wave coming from Oslo. They both offer memberships, which means access to all of their gyms in Norway. Budstikka spoke with several citizens of Oslo who confirmed that they chose to make the trip across the municipal border for training.
Deputy Health Director Espen Rostrup Nakstad is clear to VG:
– It is not the intention behind the rule that Oslo and other municipalities have adopted, he says.
QUEUE: Outside SATS Bekkestua there were long lines on Thursday. The center is located across the municipal border from Oslo. Photo: VG-tipser
– Contrary to intention
– These rules have been adopted to limit contact with people and avoid unnecessary travel. It is contrary to the purpose, the individual has the responsibility here to find alternative ways of training when living in a municipality where the gyms are closed, continues Nakstad.
Health Minister Bent Høie said Tuesday that it is not okay for citizens of Oslo to travel to other municipalities to exercise.
However, on Tuesday there were long lines outside several SATS and Fresh Fitness centers across city limits, including in Sandvika, Bekkestua and Østerås.
Nakstad asks people to remember why Oslo decided to close gyms:
– It is not about finding loopholes, but about limiting contact with other people in all indoor contexts, including gyms. This applies for a short period, initially three weeks in Oslo. Many of the neighboring municipalities have said the same thing, he emphasizes.
Nakstad encourages people to find alternative ways to train or train at home for three weeks.
