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– One must be prepared for a municipality to say on Christmas Eve that it is not allowed to have ten visiting guests on that day, Health Minister Bent Høie (H) tells NTB.
In the weekly report from the National Institute of Public Health, which was released Wednesday, the institute writes that the situation in Norway is unstable, with many outbreaks ongoing and the risk of further spread of the infection during Christmas.
– There is a disturbing development in the infection now. This means that one must be prepared for municipalities to introduce stricter rules at the local level at short notice, and they have my full support if there is a need to implement measures that are stricter than national orders and councils, says Høie.
Request evaluation of national measures
On Wednesday, the Minister of Health commissioned the Norwegian Health Directorate to assess whether the national level of measures is sufficient in relation to the Christmas celebrations. The Directorate has a deadline of December 28 to present its recommendation.
– Then we will obtain an assessment of whether it is necessary to tighten at the national level. One must be prepared for changes in national councils, including how many one may be with, says Høie.
– Thursday is Christmas Eve and many will gather. Have you considered tightening already now?
– The NIPH and the Norwegian Directorate of Health carry out ongoing evaluations, and the Ministry of Health and Care Services is in close contact with them. This is how we have been today, little Christmas Eve. We have not received any advice to toughen up nationally now, but that municipalities can toughen up in case of local outbreaks.
– Should be canceled if you wake up with symptoms.
Høie is aware that each individual must take responsibility for preventing the corona infection from spreading during the Christmas celebrations.
– Many are infected and they themselves do not know it. Many people will wake up on Christmas Eve with symptoms. So it’s important not to go to a Christmas party, or to cancel the business if you live where it should be, he says.
– We see that the infection has spread at record speed in many European countries, and that many have to close the partnership to gain control. We must prevent the same from being necessary in Norway. We do this by celebrating Christmas in a way that does not spread the virus. Don’t be someone who spreads the infection. Be someone to stop him, says Høie.
The Minister of Health is also aware that people who live with other people with symptoms should stay at home.
– Then you should cancel. “We’ve said all the time that everyone should have a plan in case they have to cancel the Christmas celebration,” he says.
(© NTB)
