Norway to ease national coronavirus restrictions: Here's what changes in October
Norway is to pull back on Covid-19 restrictions including a ban on serving alcohol after midnight and is to allow crowds of up to 600 people at outside events from October 12th.
The easing off of restrictions was confirmed by Prime Minister Erna Solberg on Wednesday morning, even though capital Oslo is stepping up local restrictions with a number of municipalities outlying the capital considering following suit.
Solberg confirmed the following changes would be made to Norway’s national coronavirus restrictions, effective from October 12th:
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Recreational sports for adults to be permitted again
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End of ban on serving alcohol after midnight
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Up to 600 people can gather at outdoor events
Where 600 people are gathered, they must remain separated into three groups of 200 and all must maintain a social distance of at least 1 metre.
In places with local restrictions in place in response to localised Covid-19 outbreaks – such as Oslo – the local rules will take precedence over national ones, NRK reports.
The ban on serving alcohol after midnight has been in place since August 8th.
Solberg stressed the continued importance of local measures aimed at restricting the spread of the virus.
“We are not getting a break from coronavirus restrictions, even though it is (autumn) holiday. We are still on uncertain ground. We have several local outbreaks… but national infection figures are at a relatively low level,” she said.
“To those living in areas with increased infections, and who must wait for the easing of restriction we will make at the end of next week, I hope this will be extra motivation to back up the measures local authorities have put in place,” she added.
Director of the Norwegian Directorate of Health Bjørn Guldvog said that “compared with almost all other countries (in Europe), we have a less serious situation in Norway”.
“The reason for this is that most people follow the anti-infection recommendations and municipalities are able to trace infection (chains),” he added.
24 people are currently hospitalised with coronavirus in Norway. The country has registered 781 new cases of Covid-19 over the last week.
READ ALSO: What coronavirus restrictions are Oslo's neighbouring municipalities considering?
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The easing off of restrictions was confirmed by Prime Minister Erna Solberg on Wednesday morning, even though capital Oslo is stepping up local restrictions with a number of municipalities outlying the capital considering following suit.
Solberg confirmed the following changes would be made to Norway’s national coronavirus restrictions, effective from October 12th:
- Recreational sports for adults to be permitted again
- End of ban on serving alcohol after midnight
- Up to 600 people can gather at outdoor events
Where 600 people are gathered, they must remain separated into three groups of 200 and all must maintain a social distance of at least 1 metre.
In places with local restrictions in place in response to localised Covid-19 outbreaks – such as Oslo – the local rules will take precedence over national ones, NRK reports.
The ban on serving alcohol after midnight has been in place since August 8th.
Solberg stressed the continued importance of local measures aimed at restricting the spread of the virus.
“We are not getting a break from coronavirus restrictions, even though it is (autumn) holiday. We are still on uncertain ground. We have several local outbreaks… but national infection figures are at a relatively low level,” she said.
“To those living in areas with increased infections, and who must wait for the easing of restriction we will make at the end of next week, I hope this will be extra motivation to back up the measures local authorities have put in place,” she added.
Director of the Norwegian Directorate of Health Bjørn Guldvog said that “compared with almost all other countries (in Europe), we have a less serious situation in Norway”.
“The reason for this is that most people follow the anti-infection recommendations and municipalities are able to trace infection (chains),” he added.
24 people are currently hospitalised with coronavirus in Norway. The country has registered 781 new cases of Covid-19 over the last week.
READ ALSO: What coronavirus restrictions are Oslo's neighbouring municipalities considering?
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