Now the government will take a position on a further plan for reopening in Norway, says deputy health director Espen Nakstad.
On July 5, the government decided to postpone the introduction of Stage 4 in the plan to re-open Norway. Following the advice of the Norwegian Health Directorate and NIZP.
At the time, the government said the transition to Stage 4 could not take place at the earliest in late July or early August.
On Monday, the Norwegian Health Directorate sent updated assessments and recommendations to the Ministry of Health and Welfare. As reported by Deputy Health Director Espen Nakstad.
"The next step is for the government to consider this and take a position on a further plan for re-opening in Norway," says Nakstad.
In the past, the government has often considered the next step in reopening for several days after the Norwegian Directorate of Health and NIPH gave their advice.
This means that the government may decide to reopen this week.
- Currently, the situation in the country is quite stable. However, there is still an increase in the incidence of the delta variant, and in some places the tendency to contract the virus is slightly increasing. The uncertainty is mainly related to developments abroad, where the infection is rising quite rapidly in some places, says Nakstad.
Little risk
The FHI also released a new one on Monday risk assessment, w which he estimates that the Covid-19 epidemic in Norway is currently small, stable and under control.
The good vaccination coverage in Norway indicates that we can still maintain control of the Covid-19 outbreak in the country, says FHI chief physician Preben Aavitsland.
However, he believes that we still need to be vigilant as the delta variant offers some degree of uncertainty in the future.
Fewer infections than previous waves
When the government decided to postpone Stage 4 reopening, it was due to uncertainty over the spread of infection, the delta variant and the delivery of vaccines. IN Norway dominates now a Delta variant.
According to FHI, the question is whether we will be able to stay in control. This can be difficult with the entry of the delta option, increased reopening of society, more people coming from abroad and more people meeting after vacation.
NIPH believes that the likelihood of an infection worsening in Norway in the next two months is average. However, they believe that the risk of such high rates of infection as with previous waves is low.
The FHI also writes that universal vaccination can replace most other infection control measures. However, they stress that people must follow general infection control rules to stop it.
The Norwegian Health Directorate-Delta variant spreads more easily
Preben Aavitsland says that it is not just the Delta variant that indicates that we need to remain vigilant in the future, partly because the Delta variant:
- it is more contagious and spreads more easily than the alpha variant
- seems to be able to infect those who received only one dose of the vaccine to a greater extent than the Alpha variant
The report addresses preliminary data indicating that vaccination with just one dose of mRNA vaccine appears to protect slightly less against mild disease caused by Delta than with the Alpha variant of the coronavirus, but this protection is very good after two doses. Protection against serious disease is also high after one and two doses.
Positive for reopening
W step 4 there is no longer the recommended distance of 1 meter for participants in sports and cultural events, nor the recommended limit on the number of guests in the house.
Last week, Prime Minister Erna Solberg said the numbers looked positive as many are vaccinated. Infection rates are stable, and few are hospitalized.
NIPH director Camilla Stoltenberg said earlier that there are arguments for the reopening of Norway, but there are also arguments against.
- We have had good experiences with the gradual progress applied both before and in this round.
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