– The number of infections in Bergen breaks all records – NRK Vestland

During Saturday’s press conference, Councilor Roger Valhammer had no good news to bring.

– The number of infections in Bergen in the last 14 days breaks all records, he says.

Since Friday, 89 people have been diagnosed with Covid-19 in Bergen. This is the highest nokosinne, apart from yesterday’s record of 103.

The moving average in Bergen last week is 74 infections per. day and night. It is a record.

Bergen now has 290 infections by. 100,000 residents, which is a record, says Valhammer.

The number of infections registered in the last two weeks is four times higher than in March and twice as high as in September.

– We have detected as many cases of infection as we had from February to August, the last 14 days, says Valhammer.

However, the city council leader will not introduce a curfew.

“We are not in Bergen right now, but if we don’t pull hard on the handbrake we will be on our way to full closure,” says Valhammer.

– Today there are fewer infections than yesterday. Have you come out a bit early with these intrusive measures?

– No. In any case, they should be introduced earlier. Those who are now infected were infected quite a long time ago, so I don’t know what the situation is today, says the town council leader.

Create debate

The city council leader says that he understands that there will be a debate on the measures they have implemented, and especially the limit of five people in private homes.

– But it is also important that these are carefully evaluated and that many considerations carefully weigh each other. When we’ve now chosen to set the limit at five, it’s because professional infection control recommendations, both locally and nationally, are so strong, Valhammer says.

He hopes that the measures will have a quick and effective effect, so that no intervention measures are necessary for a long period of time.

– It is not an easy decision for me and for the city council to implement strict measures for the entire population, but the alternative is worse, says Valhammer.

He warns that there is no reason to believe that a similar situation can be seen in Bergen as in Europe, where the health service collapses and many die.

– Can be compared to a chemotherapy regimen.

Health advisor Beate Husa likens anti-corona measures to a chemotherapy regimen.

– They do a lot of damage, but if we do not manage to ward off the cancer, the harmful effects will be greater. There is still no doubt that the damage of what we do will affect many, says Husa.

“We have no choice, we must take this cure together,” he said.

The municipality receives many questions about what is legal and what is not, says Husa. Many are concerned about whether or not they can be fined.

– But then I miss the main point. We must stop the infection together. Now is not the time to get creative and look for loopholes. Now is the time to do what we can to limit the infection, says Husa.

Defend the closure of the gym

Several have wondered whether it is necessary to close the gym in Bergen.

– We have experienced that the crown has been extended to the gym, also in Bergen. We know that with increased infection pressure, the likelihood that someone around us or ourselves will have a crown without knowing it increases, says Husa.

Husa believes that they should be able to close cities where the infection has not yet spread.

– This is how it is when the infection is at such a high level in our city.

– Decisive phase

Medical Director Trond Egil Hansen wanted private meetings to come to life.

According to Hansen, the risk of infection when ten are present is much higher than when five are gathered in a private meeting.

– And if there is an infectious agent present, there are many more who are exposed to the infection, says Hansen.

– We are in a completely decisive phase to reverse development now. So it’s important that the boundaries do not lead to the spread of infection in private gatherings further increasing, says Hansen.

See an increase in serious illnesses

– It is the case that most people have moderate or no symptoms, but we also see an incipient increase in seriously ill patients, says Hansen.

The infection has also started to reach nursing homes. Among others, in the Løvåsen nursing home, there are now eight infected residents. Wednesday night the number was four. One of the residents moved into the wreath room at the Fyllingsdalen nursing home.

– The number of hospital admissions has also started to rise, says Hansen.

On Saturday, three patients were admitted with covid-19 in Helse Bergen. There is a decrease of two from Friday. Two of the three who are in the hospital are receiving intensive care.

Hansen says this has to do with the fact that those who have been diagnosed with the infection are older than before. For a long time, it has been in the 20-29 age group that the majority have tested positive.

Measures can be harmful to health

Hansen also says that the measures themselves can have adverse health effects.

– Loneliness and mental tension, as a result. But also that those who prefer to train in the gym cannot, Hansen says.

He also wanted to clarify why not all restaurants are closed.

– It may be appropriate to keep some stadiums safe for singles to meet. We have found that many restaurants are safe spaces as long as the guests are not too rushed. It’s better to keep this offer than to be replaced by private meetings, Hansen says.