Rings 1 and 2 become levels A, B and C in the national coronavirus system. This means that upper secondary schools cannot be closed with just one stroke of the pen.
Prime Minister Erna Solberg (H) announced on Friday that the government would dismantle the ring system in the event of another wave of contagion. The new tiers of action are A, B and C.
In this way, there will only be three levels of action, of which there were previously four. One of the changes made is that secondary schools are no longer automatically closed at measure A level, but the municipalities themselves have to make an assessment.
In addition, the rules for shopping malls, religious and philosophical houses and fitness centers will change.
- We have heard criticism that the system is too complex to understand, thus simplifying and improving the system - says Minister of Health Bent Høie (H).
In addition to the designations A, B, C, schools will continue to be graded red, yellow and green. The color signaling model for schools is not influenced by the overall levels of action at national level.
Still possible thanks to national measures
Høie underlines that the government will still have to decide on regional measures in the future. This should be done in situations where there is a need for a swift and coordinated process in a confusing situation caused by a major epidemic.
The ring system, which was introduced due to the mutation outbreak in Nordre Follo in late January, has been rejected for good.
But the procedure will be the same as before, the more serious the threat, the stricter the measures applied by the municipalities will be.
The government writes in a press release that experiences with regional activities are mostly good.
The new levels of action have been changed so that municipalities have to introduce their own local actions to a greater extent. This is because the government recognizes that the measures are a heavy burden, especially for children and young people.
- Among other things, it is basically the municipalities themselves that will consider whether kindergartens and schools should move to the red level - says Høie.
-It's new with new threat levels:
Kindergartens, primary and secondary schools: Performance assessments in schools must, as a rule, be undertaken at local level. Even so, the government will still be able to issue national red level recommendations.
Upper secondary schools: At a threat level of A. They will no longer be automatically shut down; where appropriate, it is up to the municipalities themselves to decide.
Universities, colleges and vocational schools: At a threat level of C. Reading rooms and libraries can be opened. Teaching is allowed in groups of up to ten people.
Religious and philosophical events: At the level of threat defined as A. It can be open to pastoral ministry and other similar individual contacts with pastors, priests, deacons, superiors and the like. Funerals and burials are exempt from the ban on events. On level B, religious and philosophical houses can remain open, and up to 20 people can participate in the ceremonies.
Fitness centers: they can be open to rehabilitation and individual training or smaller groups at action level B and fully open to residents of the municipality at action level C.
Department Stores and Shopping Centers: For action level A, residents of the municipality are asked not to visit any open shopping centers in neighboring municipalities. On levels B and C, shopping centers may be open.
The changes will take effect on Tuesday, February 23.
