Both the national authorities and several of the largest cities in Norway are tightening their corona measures. Here’s how everyday life will be affected by the new measures.
“If we take action now, there is a much greater chance that we can have a normal Christmas with extended families,” Prime Minister Erna Solberg (H) said.
At midnight on Wednesday night, the new measures came into force, and they will be valid until Advent in early December.
“During that time, I hope that we reduce the infection together so that we can celebrate Christmas as we usually do, with grandparents and the extended family,” Solberg added.
Limited social contact
The government’s new national corona measures include a recommendation to have no more than five guests in private contexts, in addition to household members.
Norwegians are also asked to cut back on their social interaction within a week, i.e., to meet as few people as possible, for shorter periods of time than before.
Children who go to kindergarten and primary school will be able to celebrate a birthday with their cohort.
Thus, the rule of a maximum of five guests at events does not apply for the very youngest.
“We do not have to be as strict with the youngest as we are with the adults,” Minister of Education Guri Melby (V) said at Monday’s press conference.
Additionally, there can be no more than 50 participants at private gatherings in public places or rented premises.
The same goes for Christmas dinner parties.
Stricter in the capital
If you live in the capital, your everyday life will be even more affected in the time ahead.
In Oslo, until December, it will be mandatory to use a home office as far as is practically possible.
The municipality also issued a strong recommendation to its inhabitants not to meet more than ten people a week in social contexts, outside the household and at work, kindergarten, and primary school.
These so-called “social bubbles” have previously been introduced in countries such as Belgium, which had very strict corona measures at times.
“We must reduce the number of close contacts,” Oslo City Council leader Raymond Johansen (AP) said on Monday.
Additionally, it is mandatory to use face masks indoors in public places where one meter of distance from others can’t be maintained.
People must also wear a face mask at restaurants when they are not sitting at a table.
After 10:00 PM, nightclub entry has to be stopped, but alcohol can be served until closing time at midnight.
Bergen regulations
Earlier this autumn, Bergen introduced strict corona measures. The measures seemed to have an effect, and the numbers went down.
Now, the situation is different.
On Tuesday afternoon, Bergen municipality registered 77 new infection cases in the last 24 hours – the highest registered number since the corona outbreak began.
The same afternoon, the City Council announced it’s introducing new measures, which will initially last for four weeks.
Among the measures, there’s a ban on private gatherings with more than ten people and identification requirements at nightlife venues.
“Unfortunately, we are facing a demanding winter, and we must prepare for it,” City Council leader Roger Valhammer (AP) said at a press conference.
Workers in Bergen also have to use home office where possible.
The people of Bergen are also required to wear face masks in public transport and in public places indoors where it is not possible to keep at least one meter of distance from others.
Additionally, the city’s nightlife venues must ensure that the sound level allows guests to talk to each other without being closer than one meter.
© NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today
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