The government is postponing further reopening until the percentage of fully vaccinated people is much higher than it is today. Then, however, it will go straight to normal.
- Even though we are now in stage 3, we are well on our way to a normal, everyday life with increased readiness. When we get there and get better control of the school situation. In the current situation: there will be no step 4, says Prime Minister Erna Solberg (H) at the press conference on Thursday.
In this way, further reopening is postponed again.
- Further opening now poses a risk of more infection. We will not take this risk when there is little time left for all adults to have the opportunity to protect themselves with vaccines. Therefore, we will remain in stage 3 of the reopening plan. Until more people are fully vaccinated. We won't be able to move on to normal, everyday life with increased alertness, says Solberg.
The Norwegian government is waiting to reopen
In a recommendation to the government that the Norwegian Health Directorate presented on Wednesday this week. It concludes that implementing step four now is likely to lead to increased spread of infection.
The Norwegian Health Directorate reports that the main goal now is to reduce the spread of infection. And keeping the burden of disease low until 90 percent of the population aged 18 and older are vaccinated with two doses.
- The ambition is that this can be done within four to six weeks.
By Wednesday, 71,9 percent of the population over the age of 18 had fully vaccinated.
Step 4, which has now been removed from the plans, meant, inter alia, the abolition of the maximum number of guests in the house, and the requirement for pub service.
Photo: Ali Zare / NTB
Source: NTB
Read our next article: Getting Started in Norway
More information from the conference
GOVERNMENT WILL CHANGE THE QUARANTINE DUTY
The government retains its current TISK strategy (testing, isolation, infection tracing, quarantine), but plans to switch to the revised TISK shortly after dialogue with municipalities and the state administration on the content and timing of its entry into force.
- The corrected TISK means, inter alia, changing the quarantine obligation to only cover household members and loved ones, says Høie in a press release.
Routine detection of infections will only involve household members and relatives.
The infected person or other people such as parents, school or sport Team, contact other close contacts to get them tested.
- The revised TISK will take effect when municipalities are ready, says Høie.
The government gives the green light to vaccinate 12-15 year olds
- The situation is now unpredictable and many children do not attend school. It should not be like that, says Prime Minister Erna Solberg.
He points out that the increase in the incidence in the last week is clearly the highest in the 13–19 age group. Last week, the infection rose 174 percent in this age group.
He also announces that the government has decided that children and adolescents aged 12 to 15 will be offered the vaccine.
This age group will initially receive one dose of the vaccine as recommended by the Norwegian Health Directorate.
- One dose for the age group of 12-15 years will reduce both the risk of severe illness and the side effects that mainly occur after the second dose, explains FHI director Camilla Stoltenberg.
Professional advice is that 12-15 year olds get more benefits than disadvantages from vaccination. The vaccine will also help ensure a more normal daily life for this group, said the Prime Minister.
Corrections in Step 3
Norwegian government decided to make further adjustments to Step 3 of the resumption plan. In accordance with the recommendation of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and the Norwegian Directorate of Health.
When organizing events requiring COVID-19 certification, a maximum of 5 people may participate in indoor events with designated seating (previously 000), and 3 people may participate in outdoor events (previously 000). The 10 percent maximum capacity rule will not change. The changes will come into force on Saturday, September 000 at 7:000.
“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 receive COVID-19 green certification for home use. We know that one dose does not provide the same level of protection against the Delta variant as two doses. Therefore, we will assess whether people need to be fully vaccinated from now on, have the latest test results, or have recovered from COVID-19 in the last year to be certified green COVID-19, ”explains Høie.
