Norway - The government relaxes the restrictions

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National restrictions are still needed. We expect high infection rates in the coming weeks, but as a society, we tolerate the virus better. Therefore, many restrictions can be relaxed.

– As we now ease restrictions, we are prioritizing children and young people and jobs. Among other things, we are opening up to greater activity in children's and youth sports. We recommend the green level in secondary schools and adult education, and the yellow level in kindergartens and primary schools. Municipalities may decide on the level of measures to be applied depending on the epidemic situation. At the same time, we are relaxing quarantine rules and asking municipalities to prioritize resources where the transmission of infections is highest, said Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Government updates on restrictions are based on recommendations from the Health Authority and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. The government is assessing the level of measures on an ongoing basis, but will make a new comprehensive assessment in early February. Better understanding of the omicron situation
The Norwegian Institute of Public Health predicts the number of infections will increase, but says virus-related disease has a less severe
course. At the same time, we may have more hospitalizations as more people become ill in the coming weeks.
- We are currently in a new phase of the pandemic. We know that the omicron causes a less severe course of the disease and the likelihood of being admitted to the hospital is lower. Over a million Norwegians have been vaccinated in the last four weeks and the availability of rapid tests has increased. Vaccines protect very well against a serious course of the disease, said the Prime Minister.

Fitness challenges

Stopping the winter wave driven by the omicron is neither possible nor desirable. We'll have more sick, more absences
disease and a greater burden on health care, although figures are still uncertain. Managing in winter now consists in slowing down the epidemic - with the least stringent restrictions. We must avoid too many people getting sick at the same time, so that the burden on health and care and society is not too great.
- Therefore, the Health Authority and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health believe most of the restrictions need to be maintained, but recommend alleviating some of them. It is crucial that the sum of infection control measures contributes to maintaining control, said Minister of Health and Welfare Ingvild Kjerkol. The changes currently being introduced apply at the national level. Municipalities still have the option of introducing or continuing more restrictive local measures.

Sickness absence and change in quarantine rules

The government is now introducing some changes to the TISK strategy. Among other things, we are changing the quarantine rules so that the tests can replace quarantine to a greater extent.

- Many people will become infected in the coming months and the sickness absence will be high. All companies and enterprises must prepare for this. You should plan to keep as normal as possible under the demanding situation. Changes introduced by the government on quarantine requirements in the event of an infection will contribute to the fact that more people will be able to live a normal life, despite the fact that there are many cases of infections in the society, said the Minister of Health and Healthcare.

Serving alcohol until 23

In mid-December, the government introduced a nationwide ban on serving alcohol, in line with the recommendations of the Health Authority and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. These offices now believe that this restriction can be relaxed.
- We now allow alcohol to be served, but only until 23:00. The serving of alcohol will take place at the tables, as this contributes to less traffic among guests and provides protection against contamination, Kjerkol said.

Here are the national restrictions

Valid from midnight on Friday 14 January. Changes to kindergartens, schools and SFOs are effective from midnight on Saturday, January 15th. The measures will be re-assessed in early February.

. General advice on protecting yourself from infection

Practice good hand hygiene and cough hygiene.

• Get vaccinated.
• Stay home if you are sick.
• Test yourself for COVID -19 for new respiratory symptoms

Distance and social contacts

• Everyone is recommended to keep a distance of 1 meter from people other than household members and people who are equally close
• The recommendation regarding the distance of 1 meter does not apply to children in kindergartens and primary schools
• The 1 meter distance recommendation does not apply to adults working with children, adolescents and vulnerable groups
• Everyone should think about the overall number of their close contacts
• Recommendation to reduce the number of close contacts but not isolate yourself
• The house should not accept more than 10 guests from outside your own household.
• Pre-school children and primary school students (own cohort) do not have to limit the number of people
• Good ventilation/ventilation is recommended when staying in the same room with people who are not members of the household household or similarly close persons
• If possible, meet other people in the fresh air
• It is recommended that you avoid saying hello to your hands
• Persons at risk of severe disease and unvaccinated adults should protect themselves, including avoiding or being particularly careful in the event of: large gatherings and meetings in restaurants where experience makes it difficult to keep distance
  and unnecessary travel to areas with high contamination rates. At the same time, this group should not isolate itself.

It is important to have some kind of social contact

• It is recommended to avoid the use of public transport when the Mask is crowded
• Obligation to use masks when it is not possible to keep a distance of at least 1 meter in shops, shopping centers, restaurants, public transport, taxis and in station rooms. The order also applies to workers, unless physical barriers are applied.
• There is no requirement to wear a face mask when sitting at the restaurant table. Organized sports and recreational activities
• Recreational activities, whenever possible, should be conducted outdoors. Children and adolescents under 20 years of age:
• Outdoor activities can be performed as normal
• Recommended group size per room of approximately 20 people or by class / cohort
• Indoor classes can be conducted with contact if necessary

Adults over 20 years of age:

Indoors, a maximum of 20 people and a distance of 1 meter are recommended. During intensive training, the distance should be adjusted to 2 meters

• Adults may engage in outdoor activities as normal, with contact as necessary
• Professional sports can be practiced normally, with infection control measures taken.

Kindergartens, schools and SFOs

• The yellow-regulated national performance level no longer applies in kindergartens, primary and lower secondary schools and
  community centers (SFO).
• The regulated red national performance level for secondary education no longer applies
• Requirements for operation with appropriate infection control measures still apply
• A national recommendation for a yellow level in kindergartens and primary and lower secondary schools where this is required by the local epidemic situation, but municipalities have to make their own judgments based on the local situation.
• A national recommendation for a green level in secondary education and adult education, but municipalities have to make their own judgments based on the local situation.
• Regular testing in schools and kindergartens is to be used more in areas where the infection pressure is high.
• The municipalities are asked to follow the development of the epidemiological situation and to adjust the level of funds to the development. Kindergartens and schools need to be prepared to move rapidly to a more stringent level of funding.

Higher education

• Requirements for operation with appropriate infection control measures still apply
• Colleges, universities and colleges are advised to create opportunities for increasing the amount of full-time teaching
• Provided that the general recommendations for infection control are followed: airing, walking distance and staying home in case of illness.
• Provided there is sufficient access to the tests, it is recommended that students be allowed to be tested regularly. Tests should be handed out to students, and they should be easy to access on campus.
• Smaller groups / problem solving / seminars in the classroom should be limited to a maximum of 30 people with a distance of 1 m. Distances may be deviated from when necessary for teaching.
• For teaching in larger auditoriums, there are participant limits as for public events with permanent assigned seats, as well as requirements for operating with appropriate infection control measures.

. Working environment

Require employers to provide employees work from home, if it is practically possible and does not prevent the performance of important tasks
essential activities in the workplace, including caring for children and vulnerable groups

Work from home and face masks do not apply to services where it would prevent workers from carrying out necessary and legally required tasks when meeting with vulnerable groups, children and adolescents.

Meter distance recommendation

• A mask recommendation when spacing is not possible, unless other physical barriers such as dividing walls are used, and this
  like.
• Masks must be worn in certain work environments that target audiences.
• Good ventilation / airing is recommended when you are in the same room for some time with people who are not members of the household or similar close people.

. Events and meetings

• There are requirements for infection control, distance and face masks.
• Limit social gatherings and events you attend
• Private events / meetings in public places, in rented / rented premises: Indoor: Maximum 30 people, maximum 50 people at funerals. Outside: Up to 50 people.

The order to wear the mask indoors.

• Public indoor events: No fixed allocated seats: Maximum 30 people. With fixed allocated places: Maximum 200 people. The public must wear masks.
• It is not recommended to postpone or cancel indoor events related to organized recreational activities that gather children and adolescents under 20 from different places.
• In the case of team sports, only individual matches are recommended, not tournaments, cups, etc. In the case of individual sports, it is recommended to limit the size of the groups taking part in the competition.
• Participants and possible support staff at cultural or sporting events taking place in premises where children and young people under the age of 20 carry out activities, do not count towards the total number of people who may be present at the event.
• Participants at indoor cultural and sports events are exempt from the obligation to keep their distance.
• Outdoor events related to organized cultural, sports and recreational activities for children and adolescents below
  20 years of age can be carried out with no limit of the number of participants and with the necessary number of adults. If more than 100 people are present,
  there is no need to adapt areas for the public or use of enclosed spaces in the facility, with the exception of toilets.

Public collective transport

• It is recommended to avoid the use of crowded public transport.
• The requirement to wear masks if it is not possible to keep a distance of 1 meter.
• In taxis, an order to wear masks for both passengers and drivers.

Catering establishments

• Suspension of serving alcohol after 23.00 p.m. in licensed places and no later than 23.30 p.m. End alcohol consumption in its place
  serving.
• Serving alcohol is to take place at the tables.
• The place where alcohol is served is to ensure a distance of 1 meter from people other than household members and others
  equally close people.
• The requirement for masks when it is impossible to keep one meter distance, except when sitting at the table.
• Obligation to register guests who give their consent.

. Quarantine and tests

• Close contacts who are members of the household or other equally close people of an infected person must be in quarantine
  for 10 days from the last contact.
• These people are to be tested as soon as possible with a home test, rapid antigen test carried out by medical personnel or a PCR test. In the event of a negative result of such a test carried out at the earliest 7 days after contact with an infected person, the quarantine may be terminated.
• The quarantine obligation does not apply to people who have had COVID-19 in the last three months.
• The quarantine obligation does not apply to people who took a booster dose of the vaccine at least one week before contact with an infected person, and who test themselves daily with home testing, rapid antigen test by medical personnel or every other day with a PCR test for 7 days after contact with the person. infected.
• In addition, there are specific exceptions for key personnel performing socially critical functions, among others. Other close contacts are not quarantined, but it is recommended that they test themselves 3 days after contact with an infected person and another test 2 days later (day 5). Pay close attention to symptoms for 10 days. If symptoms occur: Stay home and get tested. See separate article on TISK.

Operation with appropriate infection control measures

• Operating with appropriate infection control measures requires a minimum distance of one meter from people outside the household or people who are equally close, and that the company has procedures in place for proper hygiene, cleaning and ventilation.
• An order to operate with appropriate infection control measures for kindergartens, schools and other education and training institutions.
• Amusement parks, indoor playgrounds, game halls and the like are to be closed
• Gyms, swimming pools, water parks, spa facilities, hotel swimming pools, bowling alleys and the like may be open for up to 20 people during group training indoors.
• The following businesses must operate with appropriate infection control measures to be open: Libraries, bowling alleys, museums, bingo halls, swimming pools, water parks, spa facilities, hotel swimming pools, gyms, shopping malls, shops, markets, temporary markets, supermarkets and the like.
• With the exception of libraries, museums, stores, and shopping malls, businesses must record the contact information of those visitors who give their consent.
• Industry guidelines should be followed in the event of, inter alia, gyms and swimming pools. In practice, this means stricter regime requirements
  sanitary.

Entry - arrival in Norway

• As a rule, all travelers must register before coming to Norway.
• As a rule, all travelers must test themselves upon arrival in Norway.
• Travelers who cannot document through a verifiable coronavirus certificate that they are fully vaccinated or have undergone
  COVID-19 must in principle be additionally tested in the last 6 months before going to Norway.
• Travelers who come from a country subject to quarantine and who cannot document. with a verifiable coronavirus certificate that they have been fully vaccinated or have had COVID-19 in the last 6 months in the last XNUMX months, must in principle be an entry quarantine.