Ullensaker: set an alarm after log transmission

So far in the ninth week, 95 new cases of infection have been reported in the municipality of Ullensaker. There are record infection rates for the airport municipality in Romerike.

The R number in the municipality is now 1.4.

On Monday, the presidency will meet in an extraordinary meeting to adopt new intervention measures. The proposed measures are the most stringent since March last year.

Now the mayor Eyvind Jørgensen Schumacher close “all”.

– We just have to realize that we have a high infection pressure. It is important to reject it before we lose control. We see that it has been successful in other municipalities, such as Nordre Follo, he tells Dagbladet.

He explains:

– There is a worrying increase in infection. We have had consistently high figures since Christmas / New Years, of around 250 infected per 100,000 inhabitants every 14 days. However, so far we have avoided the big boom. Now we see a change in that image.

Romerike infection log

Concerned about Ahus’s ability

Infection rates are so high that the mayor is concerned about the capacity of TISK. The TISK strategy consists of test-isolation-detection-infection-quarantine, and it is crucial to kill the virus.

– It’s starting to get such high numbers now, that if there are more, you can challenge the team that works with “TISK”. Then it becomes too difficult to follow all routes of infection, and we constantly follow them, he says.

The mayor emphasizes that the introduction of strict measures in the municipality is not taken lightly.

– This is important to many. It’s about jobs and businesses. These are measurements that you do not enter until you see that it is absolutely necessary. We have done our best to maintain services for children and youth, but after all, protecting life and health is the highest priority.

He points out that the intensive care capacity at Ahus has exploded and that the hospital must send patients to other hospitals.

– Are you worried about Ahus’s ability?

– I’m worried about that. Fortunately, we are close to the hospitals in the area, which have capacity. But we see that the number of infections is increasing in other parts of Romerike, which is an important reason to go the extra mile together to reduce the infection.

NIPH: Eight virus variants worry

Request vaccine dose

Schumacher says the municipality has not gone as far in vaccination as they hoped. The municipality has vaccinated people over 80 and residents of nursing homes, as well as some health workers. But there are still many in some risk groups.

Therefore, ask to be on the priority list when vaccine doses are skewed.

– Infection rates are so high now, I hope we get a clearer prioritization policy regarding the vaccine. I’ve been looking for it for a long time. It meant a lot. We have had a consistently high infection pressure for a long time. There is no doubt that areas with a high population density have a higher probability of outbreaks.

Calls for intensive care units: – No general description

The mayor says the municipality simply fell short of FHI’s priority list. The municipality needed eight hospital admissions to be included, he explains.

– It is a combination that has been good for us, but also luck. We have published outbreaks in nursing homes. But when we have such high infection rates, there is a chance that it could affect someone who could become seriously ill.

– Time to prioritize vaccines here. We have lived with meaningful measures for a long time, and now we have to toughen up again. It erodes.

High unemployment

The municipality of Ullensaker is also among the municipalities with the highest unemployment.

– We are one of the municipalities most affected by the virus. 90 percent of Gardermoen employees have been laid off or laid off. We have also had important important tasks that needed to be solved on behalf of the nation, such as quarantined hotels and test stations at the airport. It has required many resources.

– It has been a tough year for Ullensaker, he adds.

Now the mayor hopes that they can end the virus with the necessary measures.

– I hope we avoid a terrifying health situation.

Police apologize for imperfections

Strict measures

The municipality has had several outbreaks with both the South African and British mutation, and Schumacher notes that the mutants are transmitted differently.

– We clearly see that it is transmitted between children and young people in a new way. Previously, it was common for children to be infected in the family, but now we see that there is infection among children and young people.

There have been several outbreaks in kindergartens and schools, including an outbreak with the South African virus variant in the Læringsverkstedet Verksveien kindergarten in Jessheim.

– It’s a haunting image, he says.

– Balances on the edge of a knife

Now an end point to drinking and the closure of gyms, swimming pools and cultural and entertainment venues is proposed. It is relevant to close all stores and shopping centers, except the necessary places, such as pharmacies, grocery stores, liquor stores and gas stations.

It will probably be forbidden to organize sports activities for adults and children.

The presidency will discuss the measures on Monday at 4 pm The mayor says the measures will initially apply for a couple of weeks, before an evaluation is made.