Foreign citizens coming to Norway from abroad who refuse corona testing could be deported
Norway is introducing mandatory corona testing for travelers coming to the country from abroad from January 2.
Soon, there may be too little corona testing capacity at Norway’s border.
Therefore, testing should occur as soon as possible and no later than within 24 hours of arrival.
“This means that people who are offered testing at the border, as a general rule, must be tested there,” Minister of Justice and Emergency Management Monica Mæland noted.
Fines or deportation
Norwegian citizens who come from abroad and refuse to be tested can be fined for violating the Infection Control Act, while foreign citizens risk being expelled from the country, Mæland told news bureau NTB.
On Thursday, reporters asked Mæland why the requirement for mandatory testing hasn’t been introduced earlier.
“It is only now that we have received advice on the issue from our health authorities,” Mæland said.
New assessment in four weeks
Children under the age of twelve do not need to be tested. Some exceptions are also made for, among others, people in critical social functions, border commuters, long-distance transport drivers, and diplomats.
The obligation to test for travelers from “red” countries is based on assessments from the National Institute of Public Health (FHI) and the Norwegian Directorate of Health.
The measure will be reconsidered after four weeks. Violation of the test obligation can result in fines, the government stated.
© NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today
