The infection control measures in Oslo will be prolonged, Oslo City Council chief Raymond Johansen (AP) announced. During Wednesday, 80 new cases of infection were registered in the capital.
“We must currently have stricter rules for Oslo than in the rest of the country,” Johansen said at a press conference on Thursday afternoon.
The recommendations are based on advice from the local health authorities and national health authorities.
“We must be prepared to live with these measures until the infection rates stabilize at a significantly lower level than today,” Johansen noted.
“A disturbingly high number”
During Wednesday, 80 new cases of COVID-19 were registered in Oslo. That is 33 more cases than on Tuesday before.
According to the Oslo Municipality’s corona statistics, the number of infected in the last 14 days amounts to 649.
“It’s a disturbingly high number. The last time we had such a high infection rate in one day was in early April,” he pointed out.
The extended infection control measures include an obligation to use face masks in public transport, the registration of guests at restaurants, and a ban on more than 50 people gathering at events without fixed seats.
Furthermore, more than ten people cannot gather in private gatherings.
Additionally, all employers are encouraged to transfer to working from home if possible, and the Oslo population is encouraged to avoid the use of public transport.
Christmas and Halloween parties
The government has decided that the national infection control rules will be eased from October 12.
Prime Minister Erna Solberg (H) told newspaper VG earlier this week that she thinks it would be good if companies have Christmas dinners for their employees.
“I don’t think that encouragement can apply to Oslo, as long as the infection rates look like they do now,” Johansen said.
For many, Halloween is a more intimate party occasion.
Oslo authorities plan to inform children and parents about how Halloween can be carried out safely.
84 people fined for breaching infection measures
The Oslo Police District has so far registered 174 cases related to the corona outbreak in Oslo.
A total of 84 cases are connected to quarantine or isolation breaches, and fines of between NOK 5,000 and 22,000 have been given out, police chief Beate Gangås stated.
© NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today
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