Norway Imposes Mandatory COVID-19 Testing For Children Under 12

The Norwegian Government has announced that from today, April 19, children under the age of 12 will also be required to undergo COVID-19 testing at the border, upon the recommendation of the Norwegian Directorate of Health and the National Institute of Public Health.

The new modifications on entry restrictions were introduced after the new virus variants were proven to be more contagious, even if the infected person is a child.

“It is important that the testing should not be uncomfortable for the children, and the test stations should receive guidance that the test method used should be as gentle as possible,” the Minister of Health Bent Høie said, commenting on the testing procedure for the children.

The recommendation highlights that the sampling of children can now be done in a gentler way by taking the sample from the front nose part. However, the Ministry explains that if the test is not possible due to the child protesting, the test should not be carried out.

Moreover, children who cross the Norwegian border frequently are exempt from self-isolation, AtoZSerwisPlus.com reports.

At present, Norway has its borders shut for all foreigners who do not live in Norway. However, Norwegian citizens always have the right to enter the country.

According to a press release issued by the Norwegian Government, the groups of people exempt from the measures are as follows:

• persons involved in the transport of persons and goods
• healthcare personnel from Sweden and Finland who work in Norway
• persons who need to carry out consistent contact with children
• persons who have special reasons to enter the country

All persons arriving in Norway must present a negative COVID-19 test not older than 24 hours before entry and undergo another test at the border. After entering the country, everyone must self-isolate at an adequate place or hotel quarantine for ten days. The ones that provide two negative Coronavirus test results after the seventh day of their arrival can shorten their self-isolation period.

Previously, Norway’s Government emphasised that all persons who do not follow quarantine and testing rules will not be permitted to enter the country.

To better control the infection, everyone entering Norway from a country placed on the high-risk list must register before crossing the border. The same measure also applies to Norwegian citizens.

Up to this date, Norway has registered 107,510 COVID-19 cases, 708 deaths, 88,952 citizens have fully recovered, and it currently counts 17,850 active cases, Worldometer data show.

Earlier this month, the country also announced that all travellers from Iceland will be required to quarantine for ten days after Ireland moved from the yellow category to the red one.