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Of: Anna Sjögren, Nivette Dawod
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Work from home, avoid public transportation and before distance learning for the country’s universities.
The further spread of the infection in Norway has prompted the government to consider stricter restrictions, based on the Swedish model.
– Many of us have come to the conclusion that this is a pandemic that we have to live in for a long time, says state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell.
Norway now has more than 20 corona infections per 100,000 inhabitants in the last 14 days and has reached a new level of infection in the country. Norway has thus crossed the border that they use to classify other countries on the red list.
Due to the upward curve, Prime Minister Erna Solberg called a press conference on Thursday.
“If the number of cases without a known source of infection continues to increase, or if we fail to control local outbreaks, we will consider introducing more stringent measures, at the local, regional or national level,” he said.
Review of Swedish measures
But it is not relevant with a new full closure. Instead, it appears the country draws heavily on the Swedish strategy: preventing the spread of infection in healthcare, strengthening counseling for risk groups, encouraging Norwegians to do their homework, and avoiding public transport. , introduce distance education for universities and limit the number of people allowed in public gatherings. up to 50 people.
That Norway and some other countries now appear to be adopting a strategy more similar to Sweden’s, Anders Tegnell commented at the authorities’ press conference on Thursday.
– Whether other countries do like Sweden or not, other countries can judge, we cannot judge from here. In general, many of us have come to the conclusion that it will be a pandemic or an epidemic in which we will have to live for a long time. We must find a way to live with those who do not significantly interfere with public health in other ways.
Photo: LOTTE FERNVALL
Anders Tegnell.
Sweden has at times received criticism from our neighboring countries for how we handled the outbreak. How are the discussions among state epidemiologists going now?
– We do not see this as a competition, but we share experiences and discuss various initiatives that have worked or not and we think about how we can help each other, says Anders Tegnell.
“Located in another phase”
The fact that the curves on the number of infected people are now beginning to point sharply upwards in both Norway and Denmark, while Sweden is somewhat calmer, may have several explanations.
– It’s hard to tell today. There are two parts: on the one hand, our decrease in the number of cases occurred later than in other countries. We may be in a different phase. We must be careful to keep the recommendations now to keep the infection low, says Anders Tegnell and continues:
– So we have a different situation in Sweden, we do not go from a total closure, but we are in the same efforts all the time. It can help us to have a different development from other countries.
Photo: EIVIND SENNESET / NTB
Test station in Bergen.
Cases are on the rise – it’s up to us
And Sweden also has a certain increase in cases at the moment, but it is difficult to predict whether we will face any major new outbreaks this fall.
Some believe the virus thrives best in the cold, but it’s unclear how important it is, according to Anders Tegnell. But spending more time indoors is a clear risk factor.
– It’s pretty clear. Therefore, it is important that we do not gather too much on coffee breaks in large workplaces. There are risks.
– What will be able to cause a new spread of the infection here is what completely determines what the development will look like in Sweden.
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