Norway, which has managed to keep the Covid-19 epidemic under control, will lift its health measures in four stages each spaced at least three weeks apart, the Prime Minister announced on Wednesday April 7, without committing to a date for a full reopening of the company.
Also read: Norway extends AstraZeneca vaccine break until April 15
“
The reopening must be based on data, not dates,
” Erna Solberg told the Norwegian parliament.
The gradual easing of restrictions will be considered in the light of the epidemic situation, the capacities of the health system and the progress of the vaccination campaign, she said.
Faced with a rebound in Covid cases due to the more contagious British variant, the Norwegian authorities had tightened the screw before the Easter holidays.
They had temporarily banned the sale of alcohol in bars and restaurants, closed places such as gyms and public swimming pools, urged the population to drastically limit social interactions and tightened the quarantine conditions imposed on most travelers entering the city. the national territory.
3 weeks between each step
According to Erna Solberg, the government will reflect "
in the coming days
" on the cancellation of these reinforced measures put in place on March 25, which will constitute the first of the four stages envisaged towards a quasi-normalization.
About three weeks should elapse between each step to measure the effects of the reductions decided, which will be reversible depending on the situation.
"
I understand that many would like a plan (of reopening, editor's note) with concrete dates
," said Erna Solberg.
“
We can't.
There are too many uncertainties,
”she added, citing possible new mutations in the virus and the vagaries of vaccine deliveries and effects.
Like Denmark, Norway is observing a pause, extended until April 15, in the use of AstraZeneca's anti-Covid vaccine implicated in cases, sometimes fatal, of atypical thrombosis in vaccinated people.
Although she did not reveal a precise timetable, Erna Solberg estimated that the first three stages would be, unless unforeseen, likely taken by the end of June.
In particular, this would facilitate sporting activities, especially for professionals, allow more social interaction and ease the conditions for travel abroad.
The Norwegian authorities are also counting on massive screening, especially in schools, and are working on a "
corona certificate
" possibly capable of bringing more and more rapid relief to people vaccinated or immunized against the virus.
Norway has an incidence rate of the virus of 236.7 per 100,000 inhabitants, according to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), which is half the average observed in the EU-EEA area.
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