Norwegian survey shows almost no infections for cultural events since March 2020

A new survey shows the minimal rate of infection at cultural events since March 2020. Some who work in the cultural industry have called for a change of the current audience limit set by the Norwegian government.

1 million surveyed in 13 venues across Norway

A new survey compiled by Scenekvelder has shown the minimal rates of coronavirus infection at cultural events since March 2020. The survey consisted of the collation of infection figures from 13 large venues across Norway. Some 900.000 participants were surveyed attending 3.163 events taking place throughout the country including Folketeateret in Oslo to Bergen’s Grieghallen and Olavshallen in Trondheim. The survey showed that of the nearly one million surveyed, coronavirus was detected only 39 times – an infection rate of 0.0043%

This survey will no doubt be a key tool for the growing demands, from those within the arts and cultural industries, who are pressuring the government to increase the capacity for audiences. Atle Halstensen, from Scenekvelder, said that the current audience cap is “not proportionate” and must be changed. He felt that the arts and cultural industries are “being held back based on assumptions about the risk of infection.”

Government considering changes

Anette Trettebergstuen, Minister for Culture (AP) has already stated, earlier this week, that the Government is looking at adapting the audience limit. This limit is, in part, set by the National Institute for Public Health (Folkehelseinstitutt) which believes that there are more infection cases than recorded as many people do not know the exact location where they got infected.

Halstensen disagrees with this theory. Speaking to the newspaper Aftenposten, Halstensen described how careful infection control measures were at cultural events. He told the newspaper that “when we receive an inquiry from the chief infection control officer, we contact everyone who has been to the show. Not once have we been informed that someone is infected.”

Source : © NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today / #NorwayTodayTravel

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