Norway bans foreign traveller for two years over quarantine breach
Norwegian police said Thursday they had expelled a foreigner who violated quarantine rules and slapped him with a 1,900-euro fine, while immigration officials banned him reentering the country for two years.
The man was caught breaking quarantine regulations in the western county of Møre og Romsdal, about a week after arriving from Germany having flown via the Netherlands.
Norway requires travellers arriving from most European countries, including both Germany and the Netherlands, to quarantine themselves for 10 days to curb the spread of Covid-19.
READ ALSO: What are Norway's quarantine rules and what happens if you break them?
"We live in a system based on trust. Everyone is asked to do their bit," regional police official Svein Rike told AFP.
"In these circumstances, it's important to react firmly when the rules are broken," he explained.
The man, who was visiting someone in Norway, was ordered to pay a fine of 20,000 kroner (1,900 euros, $2,240), while immigration authorities also banned him from entering the country for two years.
Police refused to disclose the man's identity or nationality, saying only that he was not from a country within the European Economic Area (the EU plus Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway).
In Norway, 'home quarantine' including for people arriving from 'red' countries means that person is asked to stay home from school or work, not have visitors, not use public transport and only visit shops or pharmacies if strictly necessary or not at all if it is not possible to maintain social distance. You may have normal contact with people you live with who are not in quarantine. You are also allowed to go outside for a walk if you maintain a one-metre distance from others at all times.
If you later suspect you have symptoms of coronavirus, you must isolate yourself completely and get tested for the virus. More details can be found on the health authority website.
Countries designated ‘yellow' are not encompassed by the quarantine rule but the foreign ministry also advises against travel to these countries.
READ ALSO: Norway set to tighten Covid-19 travel advisory for Italy
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The man was caught breaking quarantine regulations in the western county of Møre og Romsdal, about a week after arriving from Germany having flown via the Netherlands.
Norway requires travellers arriving from most European countries, including both Germany and the Netherlands, to quarantine themselves for 10 days to curb the spread of Covid-19.
READ ALSO: What are Norway's quarantine rules and what happens if you break them?
"We live in a system based on trust. Everyone is asked to do their bit," regional police official Svein Rike told AFP.
"In these circumstances, it's important to react firmly when the rules are broken," he explained.
The man, who was visiting someone in Norway, was ordered to pay a fine of 20,000 kroner (1,900 euros, $2,240), while immigration authorities also banned him from entering the country for two years.
Police refused to disclose the man's identity or nationality, saying only that he was not from a country within the European Economic Area (the EU plus Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway).
In Norway, 'home quarantine' including for people arriving from 'red' countries means that person is asked to stay home from school or work, not have visitors, not use public transport and only visit shops or pharmacies if strictly necessary or not at all if it is not possible to maintain social distance. You may have normal contact with people you live with who are not in quarantine. You are also allowed to go outside for a walk if you maintain a one-metre distance from others at all times.
If you later suspect you have symptoms of coronavirus, you must isolate yourself completely and get tested for the virus. More details can be found on the health authority website.
Countries designated ‘yellow' are not encompassed by the quarantine rule but the foreign ministry also advises against travel to these countries.
READ ALSO: Norway set to tighten Covid-19 travel advisory for Italy
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