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The variant of the British crown has been tested in Norway, writes the National Institute of Public Health (NIPH) in a press release.
There are two travelers who are infected by the virus mutation, they have been to the UK in December. It is not known in which part of the country these two are located.
– Infection detection teams in municipalities will now follow up according to current routines for people diagnosed with the English variant of the virus, with additional tests and closer monitoring of close contacts to reduce the risk of a possible further spread, writes department director Line Vold at FHI in the press release.
– Fear of mutated viruses from various countries
Supposedly more contagious
The British crown mutation is believed to be much more contagious than the crown variants we have had so far in Norway, and in some districts of England the mutation has contributed to a rapid increase in infection.
Estimates from the UK show that this mutation of the virus can be up to 70 percent more contagious.
– The English variant of the virus appears to be more contagious than the common coronavirus, but does not appear to give an increased risk of serious illness based on what we currently know, Vold writes in the press release.
– There are reasons to be cautious, but at the same time it is not yet known what role the variant plays in the spread of the infection, writes Vold.
“Brought to bed” by plane from London
In Denmark, the variant has already been detected for some time, without having a significant effect on infection rates.
Measurements made
The government has taken several steps to try to prevent the mutated virus from reaching Norway, including stopping flights from England.
Norway stops direct flights from Great Britain
– We must ensure that the variant of the virus that has been detected in the UK spreads to Norway as little as possible. That is why we are now stopping direct flights from the UK and tightening measures for travelers from this area. This is in line with the advice we have received from the Norwegian Health Directorate, said the Minister of Health and Care Services, Bent Høie, at a press conference just before Christmas.
Among other things, requirements for check-in, more frequent tests and notification to the municipality of arrival were introduced.
Vaccine
We are working intensively to see if the vaccines that are now approved for use really work against this corona variant.
Several of the major vaccine providers have said that their vaccine works against this version.
On the third day of Christmas, the first Norwegian received the first dose of vaccine in a nursing home in Oslo.
