This will be National Day this year – NRK Norway – Summary of news from different parts of the country

The daily government press conference on the coronavirus included, among other things, the updated situation of the May 17 celebration in Norway.

“17. May General» Abid Raja repeated the message he previously transmitted, which will be a different celebration.

– It will be a quieter celebration, but a celebration of the Constitution and freedom, where children are at the center, says Raja.

He says he has appointed a national committee on May 17, made up of May 17 committees from 16 Norwegian municipalities across the country.

Raja says the National Committee has supported an idea it launched on April 3: that the entire country should sing the national anthem at the same time.

– At 13 o’clock on May 17, you will salute in nine forts, 21 shots at intervals of five seconds. Then the Norwegian solo choir will sing “Yes, we love it”. and everyone can join, says Raja.

– Take in the share of charm

The Culture Minister says he hopes NRK and TV 2 will help broadcast the event to the Norwegian people. He notes that people across Norway should adhere to infection prevention tips while attending the song.

A clearly committed culture minister says the first meeting of National Committee 17 has been inspiring.

– We have had a digital meeting, and I would say that it is an incredibly committed and forward-looking group. We want the day to be memorable, I am sure it will be a celebration that we can look back on with a positive outlook, “says Raja.

On Thursday, Health Director Bjørn Guldvog told the Dagen newspaper that physical gatherings of between 30 and 100 people are unlikely during 2020, according to the Dagen newspaper.

Raja emphasizes that infection control rules must also be observed on national day, which means, among other things, that children’s trains are canceled across the country. Raja says that no major events will take place indoors either.

However, the raising of flags and the laying of crowns will be done in relation to the fact that 75 years have passed since the launch, but with less public present. The body should also be allowed to march and play in the streets, but at two-meter intervals “in all directions”.

– If not everyone marches to the rhythm this year, we should put it in the charm quota, says Raja.

– Promise to practice in smaller groups.

There will be updated tips on celebrating National Day on May 4, after Raja had another meeting with the National Committee on May 17.

Frode Forland at the Institute of Public Health has recently received a series of questions about whether it’s okay to do body exercises, choirs, cultural schools, and theater.

– According to current regulations, we interpret it so that, as long as there are no more than five people and you stay two meters away, it is freely available. Then you can sing and play in big rooms.

Forland says good cleaning practices are important. It also emphasizes that people who belong to risk groups should be with others with caution.

More than a million have downloaded the application

Health Minister Bent Høie said on Friday that more than a million people have downloaded the Stop Disease app. According to the Minister of Health, this represents 24 percent of Norway’s population over the age of 16.

– I hope as many people as possible download Infection Stops. Then I know someone will not. It’s his choice, and we should all respect that too, says Høie.

Problems with downloads that arose due to a large increase on Thursday need to be resolved, says Høie.

Forland at FHI says the response to the app has been encouraging and promising.

Patient numbers are decreasing

Frode Forland also explained the infection situation in Norway today.

On Friday, 165 crown patients were admitted to Norwegian hospitals, ten fewer than the day before. It is the fifth day in a row that patient numbers are declining.

FHI now operates with 6,891 infected, up from 100 since yesterday.

– We are also seeing a decrease in the number of people infected day by day. This also applies to those born outside of Norway, Forland says.

The number of reproductions, that is, the number of people infected with the virus, is now 0.68 in the last 24 hours.

The NRK overview shows that 161 infected coronaries have lost their lives, after nine deaths recorded on Friday.

According to FHI, which has somewhat lower numbers because they receive updates earlier in the day, the average age of the dead is 84 years.

– It is difficult to know if people have died or from this virus. Many have an underlying disease too, Forland says.