The number of new infections increased by 90 percent.

The number of new cases of infection last week is the highest since the beginning of April.

717 new cases of infection were discovered in Norway in week 36, which is a 91 percent increase over the previous week, according to figures that Aftenposten has obtained from the MSIS (message system for infectious diseases) and NIPH.

0.88 percent of the 82,200 people who were tested last week had a positive test. Therefore, the proportion that tested positive doubled from the previous week.

Last week’s infection rates are the highest since week 15 in early April.

A large part of the strong growth is related to the two large individual eruptions at Indre Østfold and Bergen. In 343 of the 356 municipalities in Norway, the infection situation has not changed.

Testing 12 more times now

Although the number of positive samples is now as high as in early April, the situation is still very different.

The last time such a high number of infections was detected in a week, only 6,587 people were tested. Last week 82,200 people were tested, that is, 12 times more.

At that time, there was also a much higher percentage who passed a positive test. In week 15, 6.5 percent tested positive, while the proportion is now 0.88. It is a clear sign that the level of contagion in society is much lower than it was then.

Between 25 and 30 percent of the new cases last week are related to the two main outbreaks in Bergen and Østfold.

In both cases, the local authorities have stated that they have control over the situation. At the same time, several strict measures have been introduced at the local level.

In Bergen, private gatherings of more than 10 people were banned on Tuesday after several cases of infection were detected among employees of Haukeland University Hospital. At the same time, public events with more than 50 attendees were banned.

Norway above the “red” level

On Tuesday, Norway crossed the border established by the Norwegian health authorities for the first time to have an acceptable level of infection in other countries.

Residents of so-called “red” countries have been quarantined for ten days and warned not to travel to those countries.

The European Agency for Infection Control (ECDC) now estimates the spread of infection in Norway at 20 new cases per year. 100,000 inhabitants.

Rising infection rates are likely to lead to a longer period of time before authorities consider relaxing some of the national measures, such as a ban on major events.