From Monday, January 18, at 5:00 PM, the Norwegian government will introduce mandatory testing at the border for people who have stayed in areas that require them to go into obligatory quarantine.
“Norway has one of the strictest systems for entry and testing in Europe, and now we are tightening the system further to limit the imported infection.
“People who do not want to be tested without reasonable cause can be punished with fines, and must spend the quarantine (period) at quarantine hotels,” Minister of Health and Care Services Bent Høie said.
So far, people who have stayed in an area that requires quarantine upon arrival in Norway have had to test for COVID-19 as soon as possible and no later than 24 hours after arriving in Norway.
No more walking past testing stations
From Monday at 5:00 PM, the test must be carried out at the border crossing point in Norway.
As a result, people can no longer choose to walk past the test station at airports, ports, or border crossing points on roads to test themselves in their home municipality.
From Monday afternoon, the test must take place at the border crossing.
Six border crossings to be closed
“We want to strengthen border control, and therefore we are closing another six border crossings. Now everyone who is to test themselves upon entry must do so at the border.
“Those who don’t want to be tested without reasonable cause can be punished with fines and will have to spend the quarantine (period) in quarantine hotels.
“In addition, people who are caught with false COVID-19 tests will be expelled from Norway,” Minister of Justice and Emergency Management Monica Mæland warned.
At the moment, the capacity to corona-test people entering the country is sufficient at 28 out of 38 open border crossings.
Six out of the ten border crossings that do not currently have a testing station will be closed.
These six are: Neiden / Sør-Varanger, Narvik Airport Evenes, Sandvika / Ådalsvollen, Kristiansund Airport Kvernberget, Molde Airport Årø, and Linna / Åsnes.
A limited testing offer will be established at the remaining four border stations in Tana, Karasjok, Kautokeino, and Røros, where there is currently no testing capacity.
Testing available only during opening hours
The new and stricter test regime upon entry means that people who have to test themselves can only cross the border and enter the country during the period when there is an available testing offer at the individual border station.
The border station will be closed for testing outside opening hours.
“I want to emphasize the importance of filling in the digital entry registration form before arriving in Norway.
“In addition, any foreign employees must have their suitable residence confirmed by their employer. It must be confirmed upon entry,” Mæland said.
At the border crossing at Svinesund, it will take a few more days before the testing capacity is good enough for everyone to be tested at the border crossing.
Therefore, a temporary exception has been granted, which means that persons with permanent residence in Norway can test themselves elsewhere as soon as possible and no later than within 24 hours if the waiting time for a test at the border crossing point is more than one hour.
This exception will be lifted as soon as the testing capacity is good enough at Svinesund.
Source: © NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today / #NorwayTodayNews
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