Norway Announces New Covid-19 Measures as Cases Rise

24th March 2021

Last modified on May 12th, 2021

The restrictions will be in place over Easter when many head to the ski resorts and their cabins in the mountains. Elsewhere in Europe cases are rising in many countries with further restrictions.

For those going skiing the nationwide rules mean there will be a limit of two guests at private homes and a ban serving alcohol in businesses.

Norway is now seeing a record number of infections and people in hospital with Covid-19.

It now has 123 confirmed cases per 100,000 people over a 7-day period.

Five days ago the figure was 112.

Overall it still has a very low count with 89,120 cases and 649 deaths.

The new measures come into effect on Thursday March 25th and will be reviewed on April 12^th:

Here are the measures as reported by The Local, Norway.

Restrictions

National ban on serving alcohol
Ban on organised indoor sports and leisure activities for adults, professional athletes exempt
Gyms closed but can be used for individual treatment or rehabilitation
Swimming pools closed but can be used for children’s swimming lessons or rehabilitation
Amusement parks, bingo halls and similar attractions closed
Employers must facilitate home working for staff wherever possible
Persons returning to Norway after non-essential foreign travel must isolate in quarantine hotel for full 10 days, may not leave early on negative testing
Cancellation of all planned events requested, attendance limits and social distancing rules apply to any that take place.

Recommendations

One metre social distancing guideline increases to two metres
Maximum of two guests at private homes
People in high infection regions asked not to have any guests at all, or to stay overnight away from their own homes
Use face masks anywhere when not possible to maintain a two-metre social distance
Only use stores and supermarkets in the municipality in which you live
All non-essential travel should be avoided. Students traveling to family residences and households traveling together to stay at cabins are permitted
Online classes at universities, vocational colleges and folk high schools until April 12th

See here for our earlier stories on the situation in Norway:

Norway sees highest Covid-19 levels as Easter skiing approaches

Police question Norway PM over her ski resort birthday celebrations

Skiing in Norway: A Covid-19 success story

Where to ski next winter: Norway

Elsewhere in Europe cases are surging in many countries with further restrictions being imposed or considered.

Here is the latest on some of the ski nations from the BBC.

In Italy cases are increasing even faster with 18,765 reported in 24 hours yesterday. Prime Minister Mario Draghi will discuss measures to be introduced after Easter on 6 April. Despite the situation, ministers want to ease restrictions, particularly focusing on early years in schools.

Bulgaria has seen a record 4,851 cases in the past 24 hours. Restrictions were tightened last week, with restaurants closed and schools going online.

In Germany the RKI public health agency says 75,000 people have now died in the country’s Covid pandemic. Another 15,813 new infections have been reported in the past 24 hours which is higher than a week ago.

In Finland ministers have spent eight hours trying to reach an agreement on toughening measures to stop the spread of a third wave of Covid. Health officials have backed restrictions on movement but in the end they limited their move to extending a three-week closure of indoor dining in restaurants.

Spain is resuming vaccinations with the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine today after an eight-day suspension over safety concerns. The Spanish government will decide this afternoon whether to impose new restrictions over Easter early next month as infections are rising again.

Here are the current cases per 100, ooo people over the past 7-days numbers in the ski nations with the figure form five days ago in brackets:

The Czech Republic – 659 (708)

Poland – 395 (352)

Bulgaria – 351 (296)

Andorra – 323 (243)

Sweden – 307 (291)

Slovenia – 269 (248)

Italy – 254 (263)

Austria – 231 (216)

France – 216 (273)

Slovakia – 208 (235)

Norway – 123 (112)