Government Introduces New Corona Measures to Limit Infection – NRK Norway – Summary of news from different parts of the country

In recent weeks, the number of infections has increased considerably. It is especially in the larger cities where the numbers are increasing, but also the smaller municipalities have had larger outbreaks. Covid-19 is now registered in more than 60 Norwegian municipalities.

Prime Minister Erna Solberg (H) informed the Storting on Thursday about the new austerity measures they will take to reduce the infection and prevent a new closure of the country.

“In the coming weeks, Norwegians should be prepared to stay home more and limit social contact,” Solberg said from the Storting rostrum.

She is concerned about the increase we have seen in infection in recent weeks. All counties now have more than 20 infections per 100,000. She says that the municipalities have control over the tests, but several municipalities are under heavy pressure.

Ask people to stay home

The government introduced several measures to reduce the infection last week. But developments show that these are not strong enough to reverse the trend, says Solberg.

Therefore, there are now new measures to reduce the spread of the virus.

You can see all the measurements here.

The objective is to delimit the social contact and the number of close contacts.

– Continue diving at home as much as possible. Have as little social contact as possible with others. Together we can reverse the terrifying development in the number of infections, but it requires that we all get involved in a proper charity in the coming weeks, he said.

The police will also enforce infection control more actively in the future. This means that you can risk fines if you violate the rules or quarantine.

– We are going to say that this should be done to a greater extent to give a clear signal that it can be expensive when looking at the common responsibility that we now have.

I hope I can save Christmas

If it turns out that the measures being introduced now are not enough to reverse the trend, it may be relevant to introduce more measures, says Solberg.

– Most of the measures are then introduced at the national level to avoid a national crisis. What we do in the weeks leading up to Christmas, we stand in solidarity with each other, he said.

Health Minister Bent Høie (H) says they will monitor the situation closely in the future and that he hopes that Christmas can still be saved.

– I think everyone wants to have a different situation before Christmas, so that we can celebrate a Christmas as normal as possible. The most important thing now is that we do this together to avoid that our hospitals are overcrowded for Christmas, and that people are afraid of losing their loved ones because they are seriously ill, he said this Thursday at a press conference to the government.

They should justify the measures

The infection has been on the rise for much of the fall, but Solberg believes it would not have been possible to introduce stricter measures earlier to stop the infection sooner.

– We try to have measures that are not more intrusive than what we can defend based on the current situation. Many of the measures we have are intrusive. And then we must also have a reason to present them, he says.

At the same time, it is important that action can be taken well in advance so that the situation becomes too demanding.

– When there was little infection both here and abroad, it was natural with more openness. Now there is a high level of infection both here and abroad, and then there will be less openness.

National recommendations

Social contact

• Recommendation that everyone in the coming weeks should stay home as much as possible and limit social contact with other people.
• In private homes, gardens, or cabins, you should have no more than five guests in addition to household members. If all the guests are from the same household, there may be several. Two families can be found even if they have many children.
• The limitation that you must have no more than five guests does not apply to kindergarten or nursery school cohorts.
• Young people and adults who have been with friends and in other situations where they are not one meter away, should keep two meters from people in the risk group.
• In addition to the recommendations, there is a new rule on how many people can attend private meetings and events.

Travel

• Avoid domestic trips that are not necessary. Business trips that are considered necessary and trips to leisure establishments that can be made without contact with others are excluded.

Scholars and education

• All universities, colleges and vocational schools should assess whether in the coming period they can reduce teaching and other activities that contribute to greater mobility, including pressure on public transport.
• Upper secondary school and junior school should prepare for the fact that the level of measures may turn red if the infection increases further.

Rules for the whole country

Meetings and private events

• Limit of up to 20 people in private meetings in public places and in rented premises and 50 people in indoor events without fixed seating. Inside, there can be up to 200 people at events where all attendees sit in a fixed seat. The change will take effect at midnight, the night before Monday, November 9.

Night life

• National bar stop at 24.00. Caterers with a liquor license cannot admit new guests after kl. 22.00. The change will take effect at midnight, the night before Saturday, November 7.

Quarantined and traveling

• Travelers from red countries must show a negative covid-19 test certificate when coming to Norway. The proof must be signed within 72 hours prior to entry. If the person is unable to present such proof, they may be denied entry. This will run from midnight until Monday, November 9.
• People coming to Norway must have permanent residence in the country, or the employer or client must provide a guarantee for their own place of residence upon arrival in Norway. People, including tourists and visitors, who do not have their own workplace or their employer or client in Norway must stay in quarantine hotels and test themselves during the quarantine period. This also applies to family members who come to visit relatives in Norway. The Norwegian Directorate of Health is tasked with determining how these requirements can be introduced. Until this is established, border control will be strengthened in accordance with existing regulations.

Measures in regions with high infection

The government is adding more measures that municipalities in high infection pressure residential and work regions should consider introducing. The Norwegian Health Directorate and the National Institute of Public Health will assess exactly which measures are relevant in the different regions of the country, so that it is clear which measures are necessary to assess when the infection situation develops.

Municipalities in a residential and labor region that introduce measures should do their best and coordinate. The circular with proposals for local measures is updated according to the changes.

• Consider stopping grassroots sports for kids and teens under 20.
• Additional restaurant restrictions, such as a full stop or closing at 10 pm to reduce the number of visitors overnight.
• More limitations on the size of different events
• Recommendation on the use of masks in taxis when their use is recommended in public transport
• Youth schools must prepare for the red level
• Two meters away for indoor physical activity
• Mandatory home office
• Stronger recommendation to avoid public transportation
• Close or limit activities and activities that have a high potential for spreading the infection, such as swimming pools, gyms, sports halls, bingo halls, museums, libraries, function rooms without fixed seats, and other public places where many people gather indoors .

Additional tasks for the Norwegian Health Directorate

The government has asked the Norwegian Health Directorate to investigate whether there should be advice or requirements for a rapid test before employees go to work in nursing homes and residences. And if they should wear masks at work.

They will also update the professional councils that will serve vulnerable groups in health and care services.

The Directorate has also been tasked with reviewing the guidelines on infection control in public transport and adjusting them. This also applies to school buses.