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In the last week, Norway has experienced more infections than Sweden. The new GBV figures show that 1.4 new cases of infection were detected in Norway for every 100,000 inhabitants, compared with 1.1 in Sweden.
It is the first time since April 1 that more infections per capita have been recorded in Norway than in Sweden. Alex Schulman, a commentator for the Swedish newspaper Expressen, has seen the development.
«Norway has therefore changed. And the strangest of all: Norway continues with its entry ban, announcing new regions that cannot enter, others that are now welcome. Logically speaking, given the latest figures and if the enthusiastic policy is to be followed, the Norwegian authorities should ban Norwegians from entering Norway. Their infection rates are not good enough in the country », writes in the newspaper.
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– We need each other
The commentator advocates opening the border, now that contagion rates are about the same.
Several Swedish regions, including Värmland, have strongly marked Norwegian quarantine rules. Photo: Annika Byrde / NTB scanpix
«Sweden still keeps the borders open and I hope the Norwegians will think about it soon. I think we need each other, Norwegians and Swedes. We are so sick. Can’t we be together? We can keep our distance, but we don’t want to lose you completely, ”he writes in Expressen.
He is critical of the Norwegian entry rules which he describes as “incomprehensible” and “complicated”.
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– Clear sign
From Monday to Friday, last week, 454 new cases of infection were registered in Norway. In the same time period, 564 new cases of infection were recorded in Sweden, according to the NRK summary.
Deputy Health Director Espen Nakstad says Sweden is gaining control of the infection.
– It is a very clear sign that people in Sweden do many things sensibly, keep their distance from each other and use hygiene advice actively, and are careful not to spread the infection further, he tells NRK.
So far, 264 deaths and 11,388 infections have been reported as a result of the corona pandemic in Norway. In Sweden, 5,835 people have lost their lives, while 84,985 cases of infection have been reported.
Espen Nakstad from the Norwegian Health Directorate during a press conference on the coronavirus. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB scanpix
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Cross-border trade plummets
Several Swedish regions, including Värmland and Västra Götaland, have strongly marked Norwegian quarantine rules. The Norwegian rules have had major economic consequences for the border towns of Charlottenberg and Svinesund.
In fact, travel restrictions have led to an almost total disruption of cross-border trade. Norwegians spent just NOK 28 million on cross-border trade in the second quarter of this year, according to Statistics Norway.
In the same period last year, cross-border trade was measured at NOK 4.1 billion. The second quarter includes the months of April, May and June.
