Schools, kindergartens and upper secondary schools in Oslo will on Wednesday move to the “amber” level of the national traffic light model for safety and distancing protocols at schools.

Bars and restaurants will be allowed to reopen, but a ban on serving alcohol will remain in place.

The city’s mayor, Raymond Johansen, said on Monday that there is now “space to start a gradual and controlled reopening of Oslo”, media including broadcaster NRK reported.

The Norwegian capital has had local restrictions in place for months and was recently put under even tighter restrictions by the central government, due to the detection of a more infectious variant of Covid-19 in the region. A gradual easing of the tighter restrictions was signalled by health minister Bent Høie on Saturday.

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The updated restrictions, which will take effect from Wednesday February 3rd, are as follows:

• “Amber” level of the national traffic light model for safety and distancing protocols at schools, kindergartens and upper secondary schools. Universities to remain at ‘red’ level.
• Children and young people under 20 may participate in organised leisure and sports
• Libraries allowed to open
• Shops can open, but malls and department stores must remain closed
• Bars, cafes and restaurants can reopen, but the ban on serving alcohol will remain in place
• Organised facilities allowed to operate under more ordinary rules for children up to upper secondary school age [fritidsklubbene in Norwegian, ed.]. Indoor activities for older age groups will remain closed, however.

READ ALSO: Restrictions in Oslo and surrounding areas to gradually ease