Norway Excludes From Quarantine Obligation Vaccinated Health Personnel in Critical Functions

Health personnel in Norway, who have been fully vaccinated against the Coronavirus pandemic, and have critical functions in hospitals or other health services, will be exempted from the quarantine rules.

The decision has been confirmed by the Norwegian Directorate of Health and the National Institute of Public Health, AtoZSerwisPlus.com reports.

Norwegian Minister of Health and Care Services Bent Høie said that health personnel from foreign countries currently commute to work in critical functions in Norway’s health and care services and are “strictly necessary to maintain sound health and care services.”

“I am glad that fully vaccinated people can now start working immediately after testing negative for corona on arrival. This contributes to the services being staffed so that life and health are taken care of in the best possible way,” the minister pointed out.

In an effort to maintain the Coronavirus pandemic situation under control, authorities in Norway have imposed stricter preventive measures, which have included the personnel in critical societal functions as well.

Since January 25, personnel in critical social functions had been obliged to follow quarantine requirements until receiving a negative result of the Coronavirus test, three days after their arrival in the country.

The Norwegian Institute of Public Health and the Norwegian Directorate of Health have estimated that it would be a helpful decision to exempt from the quarantine rules critical health personnel who have been vaccinated against the COVID-19 disease. However, they must prove that they have completed the vaccination requirement.

Previously, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it extended the advice against unnecessary travel to the EEA and Schengen Zone countries, profoundly affected by the disease, until at least April 15, after estimating that the COVID-19 pandemic and its new strains continue to widely affect many countries worldwide.

In addition, earlier this week, authorities in Norway revealed that they implemented stricter measures such as expelling all persons who do not comply with the test and registration requirements imposed under the Coronavirus regulations and recommendations.

The Minister of Justice and Emergency Management Monica Mæland (H) clarified that all persons who violate any of the obligations mentioned above would be punished. 

Up to this point, Norway registered 67,604 cases of COVID-19 infections, and 607 persons have died, based on Worldometers statistics. Over 63,783 persons have been totally recovered from the Coronavirus pandemic, while there are 3,214 active cases.