Norway to remain at Step 3

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‘In Norway, the pandemic is increasing in severity due to the Delta variant and because people are in more contact with others, now that the summer holiday is over. We want children and young people to study as normal and recommended that the municipalities start at green level. The back-to-school period has been difficult in many places throughout the country for students, teachers, and the municipalities. The municipalities need time to gain better control over the situation. This is why we will remain at Step 3’, says Prime Minister Erna Solberg.

Control over the infection rate
The Norwegian Government continues to want to keep COVID-19 transmission under control until more people are fully vaccinated. The strategy will continue to be for local outbreaks to be handled by applying local measures. Introducing new national measures now would not be appropriate for people who live in areas where there is little or no infection.

‘During the pandemic, we have seen that the municipalities are good at handling local outbreaks. We trust that the municipalities will continue to make good assessments in the time ahead. I would like to encourage municipalities with a high infection rate to consider whether having schools at yellow level would be better than remaining at green level. In some cases, yellow level may lead to children actually getting to spend more time at school. I am confident that the municipalities, in collaboration with the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and the Norwegian Directorate of Health, will make sound and relevant decisions’, states the Prime Minister.

In several parts of the country there are schools with very high infection rates. The infection rate is rising among the younger age groups in particular, and is clearly highest in the age group 13–19 years.

The best interests of children
‘Throughout the pandemic we have focused on the best interests of children and young people, but we know that the youngest have carried a heavy burden. Now we want to give them the opportunity to live as normally as possible’, says Ms Solberg.

Municipalities experiencing large outbreaks among children and young people should consider moving to yellow level for a while in order to gain control of the situation.

‘They can also use regular mass testing to keep track of who is infected and who can go to school’, states Ms Solberg.

The Norwegian Government has also decided to follow the Norwegian Institute of Public Health's advice to offer children aged 12–15 a vaccine.

Further reopening delayed
The Norwegian Government will not proceed with the reopening now, and will remain at Step 3 until we can move to normal everyday life with increased emergency preparedness.

‘This will depend on data, not dates. The most important factor is that we are close to reaching our ambition of full vaccination of 90 per cent of the adult population’, explains Ms Solberg.

The Prime Minister points out that Step 3 involves a large number of rules and considerable advice intended to prevent transmission. The main ones are to stay home when sick, keep a distance, and keep our hands clean. This also applies to people who are fully vaccinated.

‘Handling local outbreaks with local measures remains the right approach. It is important for the municipalities to implement measures when necessary. This will allow us to keep the situation under control’, says Ms Solberg.

Normal everyday life with increased emergency preparedness
The phase that is called ‘normal everyday life with increased emergency preparedness’ can be summarised in two points:

• The pandemic will have little impact on people's everyday lives. You need to continue to remember hand and cough hygiene, stay home when you are unwell, and take a test when the advice calls for it.
  
  
• At the same time, the local and national authorities will closely monitor the situation, so that measures can be implemented quickly if the situation changes. The Norwegian Government, the health authorities, the hospitals, and the municipalities will operate with increased infection surveillance and emergency preparedness.

Take the second dose
Almost 90 per cent of the adult population has now received one vaccine dose. Over 70 per cent of all adults have received two vaccine doses.

‘I encourage everyone to accept their municipality's invitation to have their second dose earlier. This will give them better protection, both from becoming seriously ill and from transmitting COVID-19 to others. While we vaccinate the last few people, it is important to remember the measures we have become experts at: stay home when we are sick, keep our hands clean, and keep a distance outside private homes. This also applies to people who are fully vaccinated’, says Minister of Health and Care Services Bent Høie.

Changes to the TISK strategy
The Norwegian Government is keeping the test-isolate-trace-and-quarantine (TISK) strategy in its current form, but plans to transition to an adjusted strategy soon, following consultation with the municipalities and the county governors regarding the content and when it should enter into effect.

‘The adjusted TISK strategy includes changing the duty to quarantine, so that it only applies to household members and equally close relations’, says Mr Høie.

This will also reduce the contact tracing burden on the municipalities. Routine contact tracing will only include household members and equally close relations. The infected person or others, for example their parents, school, or sports team, will be responsible for contacting other close contacts, and advising them to take a test.

‘The adjusted TISK strategy will enter into effect when the municipalities are ready’, says Mr Høie.

Adjustments to Step 3
The Norwegian Government has decided to make further adjustments to Step 3 of the reopening plan, following a recommendation from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and the Norwegian Directorate of Health.

When events are organised that require a COVID-19 certificate, a maximum of 5 000 people may attend indoor events with designated seating (previously 3 000), and 10 000 people may attend outdoor events (previously 7 000). The rule regarding maximum 50 per cent capacity will not change. The changes will enter into effect on Saturday 4 September at 12 am.

‘At the same time, we are now asking the Norwegian Institute of Public Health to assess whether people who have only received one dose should continue to be issued a green COVID-19 certificate for domestic use. We know that one dose does not provide the same level of protection against the Delta variant as two doses. This is why we will conduct an assessment of whether people from now on must be either fully vaccinated, hold a recent test result, or have recovered from COVID-19 during the past year in order to receive a green COVID-19 certificate’, explains Mr Høie.

There will also be a few adjustments to the entry restrictions. Among other things, romantic partners and grandparents from third countries will be able to visit from 12 September at 12 am. 

‘We know that many people have been waiting for this. Arriving travellers will need to follow quarantine and testing rules’, states Mr Høie.

• Romantic partners must file an application through the application programme of the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration