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Figures Aftenposten has taken from Avinor show that 2,771 passengers have arrived in Norway from the UK in the past two weeks. On Sunday night, three planes landed at Gardermoen.
A total of ten flights with passengers from the UK are expected in the coming days, according to a summary from Avinor.
Several countries have halted UK air traffic due to a mutated variant of the coronavirus, which can be up to 70 percent more contagious than usual. Norway is the only Scandinavian country that has not introduced such an entry ban.
Deputy Health Director Espen Rostrup Nakstad informs Aftenposten that they have a “good overview” of air traffic on the route.
– But it is not such a good view of those who can travel through other countries, he says.
Following an urgent assessment of the situation, the Norwegian Health Directorate asks everyone coming to Norway from the UK to get tested.
– We ask that everyone who has been in the UK for the last 14 days, and those who are now arriving in Norway, be tested for covid-19. The tests will be analyzed at FHI to discover new mutations of the virus, says division director Johan Torgersen at the Norwegian Health Directorate in a press release Sunday afternoon.
All UK travelers are required to present a negative covid-19 test upon arrival in Norway and must follow quarantine rules, writes the address.
Stops air traffic
On Monday at 10am, Denmark will close the airspace for approaches from the UK for 48 hours.
– Denmark is in a very serious situation. The infection is large throughout the country and society almost closes again. According to health authorities, the mutated virus, which is spreading rapidly in London and other parts of England, may make it more difficult to regain control of the infection, Danish Transport Minister Benny Engelbrecht says in a statement.
Earlier this week, Danish health authorities declared that nine cases of the new crown variant had been detected.
The virus variant has been discovered in the United Kingdom, Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia, and Italy.
Sweden, Finland, France, Belgium and the Netherlands are among the countries that announced on Sunday that they have introduced or will introduce an entry ban for travelers from the UK.
Of Norway’s neighboring countries, only Russia has not imposed restrictions on British air traffic.
Stops all inputs
Saudi Arabia is intervening more strongly and has effectively closed its borders for a week as a result of the virus mutation. They stop all entry into the country for a week.
All international flights to the country have been canceled and the land and sea borders have been closed for at least a week.
The measures can be further expanded if necessary, the Saudi state news agency SPA writes on Sunday, according to AFP.
Countries like Colombia, Israel, and Iran have also introduced comprehensive air strikes.
Crisis meeting
The EU urgently calls a video conference Monday morning on the new variant of the virus, they say Sunday.
A German government source tells AFP that the restrictions can be applied in all EU countries, which will now also discuss a common strategy for traveling from the UK with planes, ferries and trains.
(© NTB / TV 2)
