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OFFERS QUICK TESTS: Starting Tuesday, you can take a quick test when you arrive at Oslo Airport. Illustration photo. Photo: Gøran Bohlin
If you test positive, and your quarantine site is too far away, you must be isolated in the municipality of arrival.
On Tuesday, rapid tests began for travelers at Norway’s largest airport. The test is voluntary and free, and test results come quickly.
– However, the traveler who chooses to test himself through a quick test should take into account that the follow-up will change if the answer is positive, says Elisabeth Nordal, head of unit in the municipality of Ullensaker.
Preliminary figures from Tuesday afternoon show that six people have used the rapid test. Of them, one tested positive.
After sampling, passengers are placed in a separate area to wait for a response. In case the test result is negative, passengers can, as before, go to the quarantine hotel or another suitable place to remain in quarantine.
“It will lead to great challenges”
But if the rapid test is positive, there is now a new follow-up:
- The person moves to a separate area in the arrival area.
- A routine follow-up test (PCR test) is performed and sent to a laboratory.
- After sampling, the person is transported infection-proof to a nearby hotel for isolation.
– At the isolation hotel, each individual is assessed regarding safe transportation opportunities in order to carry out home isolation or isolation at the planned final destination, explains Elisabeth Nordal, unit manager in Ullensaker Township.
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The municipality of Ullensaker expressed in early December that the use of rapid tests at airports will generate new challenges for the municipality, which has also had a great job with quarantined hotels due to the airport:
“The implementation of rapid tests will entail great challenges that we obtain many positives in OSL that will require isolation transport and isolation space in hotels that the municipality must take care of.” wrote the municipality in its status report to the county governor of Oslo and Viken on December 14.
Eight days later, the rapid tests were taking place at Norway’s main airport.
– Will perform evaluations in each case
The municipal director of medical and social care, Gunnhild Grimstad-Kirkeby, says that Ullensaker is well positioned to handle a possible increase in covid-positive as a result of the rapid tests.
They have been based on experience figures on the number of positive tests since the start-up of the test station in August, and were planned on the basis that they now have to be handled at the airport using rapid tests.
– All corona positives that can be transported to a suitable isolation site will be transported there, and the municipality is responsible for ensuring safe transport. Those who live too far away will be held in isolation in a suitable location in Ullensaker Township. Here, the municipality will make evaluations in the individual case, says Grimstad-Kirkeby.
In principle, the municipality will provide transportation, unless the infected person has their own car and can be transported without exposing others to the risk of infection.
– Are you afraid that people will refrain from rapid testing to avoid isolation?
– We have not made evaluations of this, but we focus on informing travelers. The health authorities want us to offer rapid tests to complement the regular tests in Gardermoen, and now we have been able to do so, says the municipal director.
