Norway Tightens Entry Restrictions Until Further Notice
The Norwegian Government has decided to tighten the entry restrictions implemented on January 29, 2021, for an unlimited period in a bid to contain the spread of the COVID-19 and its mutations.
“We are still in a serious infection situation. It is, therefore, necessary to extend the strict entry restrictions. We all hope that we will continue to see a downward curve in the infection situation, and we are continuously considering easing the entry restrictions,” the Minister of Justice and Emergency Management Monica Mæland said, commenting on the Government’s decision.
The minister explained that the reopening will happen gradually and in a controlled approach following the Government’s reopening plan.
In a press release issued by the Ministry, the country’s reopening is not planned to happen on a specific date since it is based on data rather than on dates.
However, children and youngsters will be given priority first, followed by workers and business persons, AtoZSerwisPlus.com reports.
The reopening plan of the Norwegian Government consists of four steps and an outline of the measures that will be facilitated in each step.
The first step will be to reverse the strict measures on the national level introduced before Easter.
However, considering the current development of the COVID-19 pandemic and the speed of vaccination, the Ministry pointed out that it will not be possible to start the second stage of the reopening plan in May.
“We will return to a more normal everyday life, and we will do it step by step and in a controlled manner. We have been in this together. Our goal is that we will also come out of the crisis together,” Prime Minister Erna Solberg said.
The reopening plan is based on the Norwegian Directorate of Health and the National Institute of Public Health’s recommendation. Before moving from one step to another, the authorities will make assessments based on the following three elements:
- Infection rate
- The capacity of the healthcare centres
- Vaccination rate
Even though the country has decided to ease the measures on the national level, it is necessary to lower the infection rates at the local and regional levels as well. Thus, there will be different restrictions imposed on different parts of the country.
The Government plans on using mass testing in order to ease the measure as soon as possible. They plan on starting testing at schools of the municipalities with the highest infection rates among children and youngsters.
In regard to this, the Minister of Education, Guri Melby, noted that the strict restrictions have made children and youngsters feel lonelier than ever due to the inability to interact with others.
Additionally, Norway is also working on establishing a COVID-19 certificate in line with the EU’s Digital Green Certificate and is considering using a simplified version of the certificate on the national level to fasten the opening of the country.
Entry restrictions for third-country travellers will continue to be effective. All persons entering the country are required to present a negative Coronavirus test result and self-isolate upon entry.
Earlier this week, Norway imposed mandatory COVID-19 testing for children under the age of 12 after the new virus mutations were found to be more contagious.
