FHI: Norway has mostly been successful in tackling imported corona infection in the last couple of months

In some places, imported cases of coronavirus have led to large outbreaks, but in most cases, they led to limited further transmission domestically, according to the National Institute of Public Health (FHI).

According to an analysis from the FHI, there have been fewer outbreaks after import cases of the English and South African virus variants in the last two months.

“A few imported cases earlier in the year have given rise to the spread of infection across municipalities and counties, and these viruses are still circulating. For example, some imported cases may have given rise to several hundred cases of infection,” FHI section leader Karoline Bragstad noted.

She emphasized that one does not know whether these are individuals or groups of travelers with the same variant.

84% – British variant

The British virus variant now dominates in Norway and, in the last four weeks, it has accounted for 84% of analyzed cases of infection. The South African variant only accounts for 1% of cases.

The British virus variant has been imported to Norway from many European countries, especially from Eastern Europe. The South African variant has, to a greater extent, been imported from Africa than from other continents, according to the FHI.

Effective prevention

“The analyzes show that one can not prevent imported infection completely, but that much can be done to prevent further infection within the country,” chief physician Trude Arnesen at the FHI noted.

“Together, it appears that the entry measures, enhanced testing, isolation, infection tracking, and quarantine, the so-called TISK, and the general infection control measures, have effectively limited further infection from imported cases in the last couple of months,” she concluded.

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

Do you have a news tip for Norway Today? We want to hear it. Get in touch at [email protected]