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– The main challenge in recent weeks has been the situation in Bergen and the Oslo area, in addition to several smaller municipalities across the country, says Chief Physician Preben Aavitsland of the National Institute of Public Health on TV 2.
In the last 24 hours, 162 infected people have been registered in Oslo. This is below the daily average for the last week, which has been 168 cases.
In Bergen, 25 new infections were recorded on Tuesday, which is the lowest in several weeks.
The development in Bergen is very positive, says Aavitsland and hopes it will continue.
Maybe turned around
Chief Physician Preben Aavitsland of the National Institute of Public Health says there are three things that worry them in the run-up to Christmas Photo: Tor Erik Schrøder / NTB scanpix
Just over two weeks have passed since Oslo introduced the social lockdown, which city councilor Raymond Johansen said should last three weeks.
On Tuesday, he told NRK that the measures may not be eased until mid-December at the earliest. Johansen tells Aftenposten that a continuation decision will likely be made on Thursday.
Aavitsland, who works at FHI management and staff for infection control, environment and health, is aware that it is too early to facilitate action.
– In the Oslo area, there are signs that the increase has stopped and perhaps reversed, but further efforts are needed for several more weeks, he says.
A number of national measures have also been introduced, including a national bar stop starting at midnight and a limit of up to 20 people in private gatherings in public places and in rented premises.
It is also recommended that one should not have more than five guests in houses, cabins and gardens in addition to members of the household.
The FHI superior says that they do not want intervention measures to be prolonged too long.
– Many municipalities are quick to eliminate local additional measures when the situation is under control. It’s good. I also hope that we will soon be able to ease several of the national measures, but a full assessment must be carried out, says Aavitsland.
The municipal chief of Oslo: – This is a very serious matter.
Unstable
The graft, which shows the number of new cases of infection in the country, is already cautiously pointing down, says Aavitsland.
– It is going in the right direction, but it is still unstable and there is a danger of a new increase. This is a virus that can quickly spiral out of control if given the chance, he says.
The superior says there is always the danger that the epidemic will spiral out of control, especially in municipalities with persistently high numbers. He says it all depends on how well municipalities test and track infections, and how well most people follow advice.
Amazing for the lead up to Christmas.
– We are still somewhat uncomfortable for the time leading up to Christmas. There are three things that concern us, says Aavitsland.
1) Overcrowding during Christmas shopping. The advice is to start early and choose times when there are few people in the stores, he says.
2) Christmas table and Christmas endings. The advice is to do it digitally this year, or at least strictly follow the event rules, he continues.
3) Students travel home from Oslo with parents. The advice is to be careful in the last days of the trip and the first days after arrival, says Aavitsland.
He says that across the country, several dozen municipalities have experienced smaller or larger outbreaks than have gained control through swift efforts with increased testing and infection tracking.
The FHI superior says that this is precisely why we have prevented an accelerated and uncontrolled spread, as well as people following infection control advice.
Unlike many countries in Europe, we have avoided a new blockade in Norway.
– The key is to detect unfortunate development early; the larger the sprouts, the more difficult it is to reverse them. We work all the time to avoid unnecessarily strict measures, says Aatvisland.
