Concerned about control at Gardermoen – VG

The Oslo City Health Council itself, Robert Steen, has been informed that passengers on a flight from Copenhagen did not have to go through a checkpoint.

The passenger contacted the health agency directly and claimed that the approximately 50 people on board were not received by the border police.

“I left the plane directly and left the airport without knowing anything about quarantine or covid guidelines in Norway,” writes the passenger who traveled through Denmark from an Asian country.

The passenger also writes that others on board the plane share the same experience.

This worries the health council.

– In the worst case, this may mean that we do not reduce the infection in Oslo and that we have to extend the measures at Christmas, he says.

If many can leave the airport directly without further control, Steen fears that infection rates in the capital will rise.

– Many of those who land in Gardermoen will visit Oslo, either because they live here or because they are going, he says.

– There can be large holes in the system.

Steen is clear that everyone arriving by plane from a high-risk country should receive good information about the rules that apply in Norway.

– We have to close these holes before it becomes an infection and not look back to find out what was the cause, he says and continues:

– You must check the scheme you have, be it hotels in quarantine, requirements for negative tests or verify that people are really in quarantine.

At the end of October, the government raised the alarm about the increase in import infections and introduced strict measures for people arriving in Norway from red countries:

• You must submit a negative coronation test performed less than 72 hours before arriving in Norway for people who are not Norwegian citizens or who have a residential address in Norway. Therefore, you must document that you tested negative during the days prior to your arrival in Norway.
• In addition, all people who come from red countries and are not registered as residents or own a house in Norway must register in a quarantine hotel for ten days. There are some exceptions to the rule, even for students and employees where the employer provides a suitable place to stay, with a private room.

Steen points to the social closure that the city hall has introduced in Oslo.

– It is a strict regime that we have introduced in Oslo, the strictest since March. I experience that people understand the measurements and comply with the measurements. But then we can’t have big holes in our system, says Steen.

You say you are directly concerned about the import infection that may occur, but you also have an indirect concern:

– If too many people experience landing on Gardermoen uncontrollably, I am afraid it will have an effect on compliance with other tips and measures. That one might think “if the people who land on Gardermoen lose control, why do we have to live with strict measures,” says Steen.

Police: Failures cannot be ruled out

Police lawyer Thor Larsen in the eastern police district told VG that no deviations were reported on Friday, meaning all planes, including the one in Copenhagen, must have been searched. At the same time, you cannot rule out that a mistake has been made.

– There are many planes landing and many people. And those who do this work do the best they can. We assume that all aircraft must be checked. But we cannot say with certainty that it did not happen. An error can occur and that is unfortunate.

He adds that there is a clear order for all aircraft to be searched and go through passport control and have a conversation with the border controller.

– Trust-based system

After November 9, everyone who comes to Norway has a duty to stay in a quarantine hotel if they are not included in one of the exceptions.

Larsen says there are no documentation requirements in the regulations about what must be presented as proof that you are one of the exceptions.

– This is basically based on trust. There is no documentation requirement in the regulations. It will be the individual police officer’s assessment whether, for example, one should contact the employer or not to check if they have a suitable quarantine place for the employee.

It says everyone should go through passport check, where it appears on the screen if you are a resident of Norway.

– What has been confirmed from border control is that you take the time and do the necessary investigations, so that you are sure that you are making the right decision.

Mistakes can occur in the right direction

VG has been in contact with a Norwegian student who landed in Gardermoen on Sunday. According to the person in question, no one asked for a student ID and he experienced that the police used discretion regarding the fact that they were going to a funeral in Norway.

The police attorney confirms that a student ID is not necessarily required:

– The government has clarified the quarantine rules regarding students, that students can quarantine at home. It is probably not the case that student certificates are required in all cases. We make an assessment of the case in that conversation, either to follow the information provided or to base what they say.

– Do you exercise discretion when the person tells you that they are going to attend a funeral?

– I can’t answer that exactly. Taking into account everyone who is being controlled, mistakes can be made and perhaps one goes wrong in the right direction rather than a mistake.