– Good news – VG

Norway now has a higher infection trend than Sweden, VG figures show.

It is based on the number of cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the last 14 days.

Norway has 23.9 infected per 100,000. Sweden is down to 23.

Recent figures from the European Infection Control Agency ECDC also show that Norway has higher infection rates.

– gives hope

NIPH Director Camilla Stoltenberg says this could allow for more travel between Norway and Sweden.

– This is good news that gives hope that we can open the borders, says the director of FHI, Camilla Stoltenberg, to VG.

Many Norwegians have holiday homes in Sweden and have long required quarantine exceptions in order to travel there.

Stoltenberg says there are many, not just cabin owners, who are looking forward to a trip across the border. But we still can’t pack:

– We don’t know when. It depends on whether they still want a favorable situation in the future. We see that Norway, due to two somewhat larger outbreaks, has a different situation than ours. It is vulnerable, we will have to live with the fact that there are fluctuations in infection rates.

– Sweden wants more immunity

It remains true that the level of infection in the regions of Sweden and other Nordic countries must add up to less than 20 per 100,000 inhabitants in the last 14 days.

– Since the infection pressure is roughly the same as in Sweden, can it be relevant to open up to cottage owners even if the number is higher than 20 per 100,000?

– Not relevant with separate rules for Sweden. There should be the same rules for the Nordic countries and preferably for all of Europe.

Stoltenberg adds that it is the government that decides the guidelines, which are based on a reasonable and fair line between European countries.

Sweden, and perhaps especially its state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell, has had to endure massive criticism for the way they have handled the corona pandemic. While many countries in both Europe and the world close off virtually all of society, Swedes can still go to bars, schools and cross borders without quarantine.

It immediately resulted in high infection rates and subsequently many deaths, leading Sweden quickly to finish on the “worst list” of countries affected by the crown.

Figures show that 86,505 Swedes are or have been infected by the virus, while more than 5,846 have lost their lives.

By comparison, the figures in Norway are 12,079 and 265, respectively.

Different infection situation

Norway and Sweden have different infection situations. Stoltenberg says that while Norway has recent outbreaks, Sweden has regions with higher infection over time (see infection chart above for case).

She believes that it is now the combination of several measures which means that Sweden is now in control of the infection:

– Immunity may have something to do with it and that may be good news. Sweden wants more immunity, but we don’t know what role it plays in reducing the spread of the infection. Now, to a greater extent than before, they have used testing, monitoring and quarantine – the same tools we use to control outbreaks.

He adds that Sweden has also increased testing, which appears to be contagious.

– Could the change have something to do with people getting bored in Norway, whereas in Sweden the consequences of corona infection have been seen more clearly?

– We don’t know the answer to that now. In general, it appears that residents of Norway also follow infection control measures.

Local shoots

Norway now has 14 municipalities with an increasing infection trend. Bergen, Fredrikstad and Sarpsborg in particular are working to overcome the outbreaks.

– We are concerned about losing control when we have outbreaks like in Bergen. It has gotten big and complicated. It is crucial to control it. We are concerned and perceive it as a serious situation. The municipality does a very solid job, and at FHI we provide ongoing advice and support.