The Norwegian authorities will be introducing some new national and regional rules to stop the rapid spread of the Omicron variant. Currently, Norway has more than 30 cases of this COVID-19 variant, which was discovered in South Africa and Botswana by the end of last month.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Omicron variant has an increased risk of reinfection and it’s believed to be able to bypass immunity through vaccination. In general, Omicron is more transmissible because it has 32 mutations in its spike proteins, the proteins that help the virus penetrate into the human cells.
Perhaps because of this, the variant is present in six continents across the world now, and both the Norwegian Directorate of Health and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health have expressed their concern about it.
In order to slow down the spread of the Omicron variant, the Norwegian government reintroduced:
- Social distancing. The government recommends staying away from other people (1 meter at least). People should also avoid hugging and shaking hands with others.
- Social bubbles. They must be as reduced as possible. The government recommended cutting down the number of “close contacts” that adult people might have.
- Home office. People should work from home as much as they can. Only 50% of the workforce must be at the workplace. For the Norwegian authorities, this is a fair, necessary percentage to keep essential services running. Essential services shouldn’t be affected by the reduction of presential work.
- Face covering/mask. It will be mandatory in hospitals, shops, shopping centers/malls, public transport, taxis, football stadiums, and other crowded events where it is not possible to keep a 1-meter distance with other people. The only exemptions for this rule are children under 12 years of age and people who can’t wear a mask due to certain underlying medical conditions.
- Quarantine. People who are thought to have the Omicron variant must self-isolate for 7 days. The isolation period will last 10 days for close contacts unless they take two PCR tests: one as soon as possible, and another one between day 3 and day 7 —unless it’s found that the first person is not infected with the Omicron variant after all. But until then, these preventive measures should be respected.
- Entry restrictions. The latest entry restrictions to Norway apply mostly to people who have recently visited South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique, Lesotho, Eswatini, and Malawi.
“We must delay and limit the spread of the virus variant detected in South Africa to Norway. This is why we are now tightening measures for travelers from this area,” said Minister of Health and Care Services, Ingvild Kjerkol.
From November 27th, 2021, people coming from these African countries must take a COVID-19 diagnostic test before departure, right after arrival, and another one 7 days after arrival. They must also isolate themselves for 10 days at a quarantine hotel for at least 3 days. After the third day, if they take a COVID-19 test and it comes out negative, they can continue self-isolating somewhere else as long as they have a private bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen.
Finally, they can interrupt their travel quarantine if they present a negative COVID-19 test on day 7.
Compliance with these requirements will be controlled by the local police.
- Travel restrictions. From December 2nd, 2021, both vaccinated and unvaccinated people traveling to Norway must take a COVID-19 diagnostic test right after arrival or 24 hours after arrival if there is no test center available at the border.
They can take the test at a public center or self-test with a rapid antigen test somewhere else. If it comes out positive, they must take a PCR test to confirm the infection.
Only cross-border commuters, aeronautical personnel, and haulers are exempt from this norm.
Temporarily, there will not be more direct flights between Norway and high risk countries such as South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique, Lesotho, Eswatini, and Malawi.
- Travel quarantine. Not even children will be exempt from travel quarantine. But if they’re under 18 years old and arrived alone in Norway they can self-isolate at home or anywhere else where they can avoid close contact with other people. They will not be exempt from taking the COVID-19 test, though.
These rules have come into effect in all Norwegian provinces and counties now, including Svalbard Islands.
Until a few weeks ago, people traveling to Svalbard didn’t have to take a COVID-19 diagnostic test before arrival but the Omicron variant has raised special concerns because the islands do not have a lot of available health resources to face a COVID-19 outbreak with a more infectious strain. The Norwegian government fears that in a case like this, an evacuation to the mainland through an air ambulance service might be required.
Regional measures
People in the regions of Oslo, Viken, and Innlandet must follow these additional measures:
- Attendance for indoor private events at a public venue or at a rented/borrowed venue will be restricted to 100 people.
- Event organizers and venues that serve food or alcohol must register guests in order to notify them if there’s been an infection.
- Alcohol can only be served at tables. All guests must be seated. They must wear a face covering until they’re at the table.
Other Norwegian municipalities covered by these additional regional measures are:
- Asker
- Bærum
- Grue
- Kongsvinger
- Nord-Odal
- Sør-Odal
- Eidskog
- Hurdal
- Nannestad
- Ullensaker
- Gjerdrum
- Nes
- Lørenskog
- Lillestrøm
- Rælingen
- Aurskog-Høland
- Enebakk
- Nordre Follo
- Ås
- Nesodden
- Frogn
These rules will apply to both vaccinated and unvaccinated adults, initially for two weeks, or until “more elderly and vulnerable inhabitants” have been vaccinated —with a special focus on Svalbard Islands’ population.
“The existence of the new virus variant highlights the need to keep up a high pace of vaccination. It is important to administer the first and second doses to all the people who have not yet had them, and the booster dose to those who are eligible. The vaccination work must be prioritized,” said Norway’s Health Minister Invild Kjerkol.
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