Authorities consider hardening after virus mutation in UK – NRK Norway – Summary of news from different parts of the country

Health Minister Bent Høie says authorities are considering stricter rules for those coming from the UK to Norway. For now, remember the quarantine rules.

– It is important that we act quickly to try to prevent this variant of the virus from spreading further nationally here in Norway. It is important that all people who have arrived from the UK in the last 14 days comply with the quarantine rules. We have strict entry measures, but are now considering whether further measures need to be implemented, says Health and Care Services Minister Bent Høie (H) in a press release.

Recommend testing rather than closing the border

But the National Institute of Public Health has not yet recommended any border closures for people coming from the UK. On the other hand, they recommend a lab test for those coming from the UK.

– We have advised the Ministry of Health and Care Services that we should consider giving advice on testing to those coming from the UK within 24 hours. We have also advised on how to strengthen the exemption rules for those coming from the UK and ensure good information and compliance with quarantine rules.

This is what the director of the Department of Public Health, Line Vold says. She believes the restrictions are already tight and the NIPH proposals will help detect any new infections early.

FHI has stepped up monitoring of the viruses in laboratories and has sent a message to all municipalities to be more vigilant if travelers from England are tested.

The Norwegian Health Directorate has been tasked with reinforcing information on quarantine rules for those coming or coming from the UK in the last 14 days. They will also consider whether people who have arrived from the UK in the last 14 days or who will arrive in the future will be offered a PCR test, i.e. a laboratory test, after their arrival.

In addition, they will consider tightening the quarantine exemption rules for travelers from the UK.

Netherlands and Belgium scale flights

The Netherlands and Belgium closed all flights from the UK on Sunday after a new variant of the coronavirus was found. Germany is considering doing the same.

It is estimated that the new variant of the virus now spreading in the UK may be 70% more contagious than the original variant. Therefore, England is imposing extra stringent restrictions on areas where the virus has been detected.

The virus does not appear to cause a more serious illness. There is also no indication that the vaccines do not work as well against the new variant, confirms FHI.

The variant has also been tested on samples of nine people in Denmark, as well as the Netherlands and Australia. So far it has not been discovered in Norway.

The National Institute of Public Health is now doing the following:

• It closely follows the situation with the Nordic and European sister institutes and assesses the risk for Norway.
• It intensifies the monitoring of virus variants by informing medical-microbiological laboratories and collecting relevant samples from them.
• It informs city councils that they should pay special attention to UK infection and notes this on samples sent to laboratories.
• It tells us what vaccine and test providers are reporting about this variant.

The Norwegian Institute of Public Health has proposed to the Ministry of Health and Care Services that in order to gain time and gain more knowledge about this variant, the following should be considered:

• Strengthen quarantine compliance and reporting for UK travelers (i.e. anyone who has been to the UK in the last 14 days).
• Advise all UK travelers (including Norwegian citizens) on PCR testing within 24 hours of arrival in Norway (in addition to the current requirement for a negative test 72 hours prior to entry into Norway).
• Take a closer look at the quarantine exemption rules for UK travelers and consider adjusting them.