Norway: Authorities extend COVID-19 restrictions until December 17 /update 20

Event

On Wednesday, November 25, Prime Minister Erna Solberg announced that current restrictions in place to control the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) will be extended for at least another three weeks until December 17. The current measures were announced on November 5, and encourage people to stay at home as much as possible and reduce social contact. Public gatherings are limited to 20 people and bars and pubs are not permitted to open past midnight. Additional measures were introduced in Oslo on November 6 due to a high infection rate in the capital. Theatres, cinemas, training centers, and swimming pools are shut and bars and restaurants are not permitted to serve alcohol, causing many to close. The government has asked city and regional authorities to continue to intervene with additional measures in areas with higher infection rates. Solberg indicated that measures would be eased somewhat over the Christmas period, with further details regarding this period expected next week.

Travelers arriving in Norway are required to quarantine for ten days, with the exception of those arriving from a few specified European countries with low transmission rates. Those arriving from countries with high infection rates must present a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of arrival. Further details on the status of countries and the differing restrictions can be found here.

As of November 25, there have been 33,988 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Norway with 316 associated deaths. Further international spread of the virus is to be expected in the near term.

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Since then, human-to-human transmission of the virus has been confirmed.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak a pandemic. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Some patients may experience other symptoms such as body pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell, or a rash on skin or discoloration of fingers or toes. These symptoms (in most cases mild) appear gradually. Generally, most patients (around 80 percent) recover from the disease without being hospitalized.

Advice

Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.

To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:

• Frequently clean hands by applying an alcohol-based hand rub or washing with soap and water.
• When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.
• If experiencing a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including pneumonia, call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the disease.