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– We decided for the first time the same morning. It was a long way off, says the director of the National Institute of Public Health, Camilla Stoltenberg, in an interview with NTB.
She and her husband had invited six people on New Year’s Eve. Well within current infection control rules. But in the end, Stoltenberg concluded that it was too much.
– We ended up canceling. I was concerned about the situation with the further spread of the infection and also the total number of people we had met at Christmas.
Stoltenberg emphasizes that he does not want to criticize the decisions of others.
You fear the infection is out of control
The head of the NIPH is concerned. The infection in Norway is increasing rapidly and the fear is that the spread of the coronavirus will spiral out of control in the coming weeks.
– If you start counting how many you have met during Christmas and New Years that you do not usually know, and how many have met that you do not usually know, then the sum of all those who have been in contact with each other is greater than before during the pandemic since March, says Stoltenberg.
Remember that several other countries in Europe have experienced a significant increase in infection, with many serious illnesses and many deaths as a result. And according to Stoltenberg, there are many reasons to fear that the same could happen in Norway.
“Although we have done well so far compared to other European countries, the epidemic can get out of control here as well,” he says.
The virus can become endemic
During Christmas, the vaccination began. Stoltenberg believes that action will be needed for some time.
– We believe that vaccination will provide a much better basis for easing restrictions over time. But for now, we will also have infection control measures for some time. I think it is important that we not give false hope about how quickly the measures can be relaxed, he says.
It is also not certain that the coronavirus can be stopped completely. In contrast, the World Health Organization (WHO) has concluded that it is likely endemic. This means that SARS-CoV-2 never completely disappears, but keeps coming back, perhaps in waves.
– We are used to living with other viruses that annually cause serious illness and death, such as the flu. So it won’t be completely different from that. It is conceivable that variants of coronary vaccines would then have to be developed, depending on which variants of the virus dominate and circulate. Perhaps in the future we will need to offer regular vaccine refreshments to population groups, says Stoltenberg.
Summer festival insecure
Stoltenberg believes that it is the basic infection control tips that will remain the longest measures. Also, there may be restrictions for large events. Stoltenberg is not sure if it will be possible to organize big festivals this summer.
– But of course we want it to be possible to have concerts and festivals this summer, he says.
– Can we hug and shake hands again in 2021?
– Yes. There is hope for that!
Stoltenberg says hugging those she loves is something she looks forward to when this is over.
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