Raise your index finger against the crown – Dagbladet

“It is the behavior of each of us that is crucial,” said Prime Minister Erna Solberg (H).

Now that Norway is gradually reopening, it is very important that people do not start to relax too much, he warns.

The basic tips should be followed: wash your hands, cough your elbow and keep at least a meter away from others. And so, the social circle should not increase so much that “infection bombs” are produced in society.

“We have a very low infection rate at the moment,” the Prime Minister told NTB.

– But remember that the more we are together, the greater the danger that someone is infected.

Worrying reports

Last week, the Health Directorate and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health released new reports on the development of the infection.

There it is claimed that municipal doctors and county officials are now reporting support from the poorest population for some of the contagion measures. This is especially true regarding tips for keeping a distance in shops, restaurants, and parks.

At the same time, Telenor data shows that travel and contact between people has increased.

The Institute of Public Health also expects the quarantine order to be challenged.

The Health Directorate and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health emphasize that voluntary support for the measures has been crucial in keeping the coronavirus under control.

Seeing various possible causes

The concern of the health directorate now is that the measures will be less effective because the understanding of the crisis in the population is weakening. When the threat is not perceived as acute, the advice is not followed as strictly.

The Institute of Public Health describes the situation as challenging and points to several possible reasons:

• People may perceive the image of the threat as less serious now than when the measures were introduced. Relief in some measures may be interpreted by many as a sign that the danger has passed. At the same time, it has become clear that young people rarely become seriously ill.
• The measures have been working for a while and people are getting bored. Disadvantages are increasing for both individuals and businesses, and solidarity with the elderly may fail.
• The season makes people want to spend more time with each other, in parks and in outdoor restaurants.
• Removing prohibitions can be interpreted as everything that is not prohibited is fine.

Raise your index finger

Solberg, for his part, makes it clear that the government will not hesitate to raise a warning index finger occasionally if necessary.

Everyone should do their share of the work, he says.

– People have to endure. And it is more demanding when we open. It is more demanding when things go better. That is all

Solberg also makes reservations that it may be necessary to clear the infection if it reappears. This also applies locally.

– At the same time, we cannot live tightly closed in the future. So: wash your hands, use antibac, and be sure to keep that meter on, she says.