Norway May Re-Extend Entry Ban for Third-Country Citizens Until November 2021

Norway’s government may extend the European Union entry ban imposed on third country citizens until November 10 this year, in order to protect Norwegian citizens from the Coronavirus and its new variants, the country’s Ministry of Justice and Public Security has announced.

The ban was introduced for the first time in mid-March last year, amid the first wave of Coronavirus infections. However, the rapid spread of the virus pushed the country’s authorities to prolong it until June 1, 2021, due to COVID-19, AtoZSerwisPlus.com reports.

“We are still in a serious infection situation. It is therefore essential to extend the legal basis for entry restrictions. We all hope that the infection situation will soon improve, and we are continuously considering easing the entry restrictions,” Norwegian Minister of Justice and Emergency Management Monica Mæland (H) pointed out in this regard.

In addition, the hospital district Länsi-Pohja in Finland will go from yellow to red on Europe’s infection map due to the Coronavirus situation; therefore, the Ministry advises citizens to avoid non-essential travel to this area.

All persons who wish to enter Norway from Länsi-Pohja, from March 29 will be required to follow the 10-days mandatory quarantine rule.

The country has registered 92,858 COVID-19 cases of infection since the beginning of the pandemic and 656 deaths, Worldometers’ figures reveal. A total of 74,332 persons have fully recovered from the virus, while there are 17,870 active cases.

On Monday, the country announced that it would tighten its COVID-19 federal restrictions in order to prevent an upsurge in the number of infections as a result of the Easter holidays.

In this regard, the assistant health director at the Norwegian Directorate of Health, Espen Rostrup Nakstad, pointed out that both the directorate and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) were looking at which measures would apply during the Easter holidays.

“We look at how many people can be together, when you should wear a face mask and when you should keep your distance. We consider all these things and where it may be relevant to tighten them,” he said.

However, not all persons will be subject to Norway’s entry restrictions.

Previously the country announced that healthcare personnel in Norwegian territory who have taken the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine and have essential functions in the country’s health institutions would not be required to follow quarantine rules upon their arrival.

Earlier this month, authorities in Norway permitted daily commuters from Finland and Sweden to work in the country; however, they must follow strict test and control rules.

In case that persons do not correctly follow test and registration requirements, they risk being expelled from the country, Norwegian Minister of Justice Emergency Management Monica Mæland (H) previously warned.

At the same time, Norway’s government has advised its citizens not to travel abroad for unnecessary reasons until April 15 due to increased COVID-19 infections.