The pre-existing system of ‘rings’ of restrictions in and around outbreak areas is now only a geographical designation which will be used alongside the lettered measures, the government announced this week.

READ ALSO: Rings 1-2 and levels A-D: What are the new Norwegian Covid-19 local restrictions?

“There are four levels of measures which can be taken into effect. These are: A (very high); B (high); C (quite high); D (slightly high),” the government said in a statement.

The system has been criticised and called a “number and alphabet soup” by the opposition Labour party. Health minister Bent Høie has said that measures have been shown by surveys to be generally well understood.

Here is a guide to the restrictions which will be used at each of the four levels. Recommendations – for example in relation to guests in private homes, travel and use of face masks (when not mandatory) – are covered in a separate article.

Level A: Very high

Childcare, schools, higher education:

• Schools and childcare facilities at ‘red’ coronavirus alert level, meaning measures including reinforced infection control measures and smaller groups.
• Upper secondary education closed with classes moved online.
• Universities and other adult education, including folk high schools, postpone classes or move them online.

Events:

• All public events banned, regardless of whether they take place inside or outside. Funerals and burials are exempted.
• Up to five people, in addition to production staff, may gather in order to produce digital events.

Sports and leisure:

• Sports and leisure activities may not be organised for children or adults.

Work:

• Working from home mandatory wherever possible. Employers are obliged to facilitate this.

Shops:

• All stores must close with the following exceptions: shops primarily selling food (including convenience stores); supply stores for pets; pharmacies, optometrists, Vinmonopolet stores; hair salons, skincare and tattoo parlours; physiotherapists, chiropractors, chiropodists; petrol stations; and supply stores for agriculture, construction and home renovation, etc.
• Shops and stores are allowed to open for collection of pre-ordered goods once a safe system for collection is in place.

Restaurants, cafes and bars:

• All business which serve food closed but may operate takeaway service.
• Ban on serving alcohol applies.

Other businesses which must close:

• Gyms, amusement parks, bingo halls, bowling alleys, museums, cinemas, theatres, concert halls, swimming pools, spa facilities, libraries, all other indoor cultural leisure or entertainment centres.

Face masks:

• Generally required in all public places, including public transport and taxis, when it is not possible to maintain a 1-metre distance.
• This does not apply to children under 12.

Level B: High

Childcare, schools, higher education:

• ‘Yellow’ level at schools and kindergartens in line with the national traffic light model.
• Upper secondary education at ‘red’ coronavirus alert level.
• Universities and other adult education, including folk high schools, postpone classes or move them online.

Events:

• National restrictions apply.

Sports and leisure:

• Organised sports and leisure activities allowed for children and young people under 20, but not for adults. The same applies to cultural activities.
• Swimming pools and similar may open for this purpose as well as for use by professional athletes and for rehabilitation and similar treatments.

Work:

• Working from home mandatory wherever possible. Employers are obliged to facilitate this.

Shops:

• Free-standing stores may open except for stores in shopping centres and malls, with the following exceptions:
• Shops primarily selling food (including convenience stores); supply stores for pets; pharmacies, optometrists, Vinmonopolet stores; hair salons, skincare and tattoo parlours; physiotherapists, chiropractors, chiropodists; petrol stations; and supply stores for agriculture, construction and home renovation, etc.
• Shops and stores are allowed to open for collection of pre-ordered goods once a safe system for collection is in place.

Restaurants, cafes and bars:

• Business which serve food may open if they are not part of a shopping mall.
• Ban on serving alcohol applies.

Other businesses which must close:

• Gyms, amusement parks, bingo halls, bowling alleys, museums, cinemas, theatres and concert halls.
• Swimming pools, spa facilities, libraries, all other indoor cultural leisure or entertainment centres if not encompassed by exceptions (see above).

Face masks:

• Generally required in all public places, including public transport and taxis, when it is not possible to maintain a 1-metre distance.
• This does not apply to children under 12.

Level C: Quite high 

Childcare, schools, higher education:

• ‘Yellow’ level at schools and kindergartens in line with the national traffic light model. Local authorities may introduce ‘red’ coronavirus alert level based on assessment locally.
• Universities and other adult education may open if classes or training required for students to complete programmes cannot be conducted online.
• Other classes at universities and other adult education, including under integration laws, are closed. University and adult education classes to move online.

Events:

• All public events banned, regardless of whether they take place inside or outside. Funerals and burials are exempted.
• Up to five people, in addition to production staff, may gather in order to produce digital events.

Sports and leisure:

• Organised sports and leisure activities allowed for children and young people under 20, but not for adults.
• Exemption for elite athletes.
• Swimming pools and similar may open for this purpose as well as for use by professional athletes and for rehabilitation and similar treatments.
• Cultural, leisure and sports facilities may open for children and young people under 20, and for outdoors activities for adults.
• Libraries may open.

Work:

• Working from home mandatory wherever possible. Employers are obliged to facilitate this.

Shops:

• As Level ‘B’.

Restaurants, cafes and bars:

• As Level ‘B’.

Other businesses which must close:

• Gyms, amusement parks, bingo halls, bowling alleys, museums, cinemas, theatres and concert halls.
• Swimming pools, spa facilities, all other indoor cultural leisure or entertainment centres if not encompassed by exceptions (see above).

Face masks:

• Generally required in all public places, including public transport and taxis, when it is not possible to maintain a 1-metre distance.
• This does not apply to children under 12.

Level D: Slightly high

Childcare, schools, higher education:

As Level ‘C’, i.e.:

• ‘Yellow’ level at schools and kindergartens in line with the national traffic light model. Local authorities may introduce ‘red’ coronavirus alert level based on assessment locally.
• Universities and other adult education may open if classes or training required for students to complete programmes cannot be conducted online.
• Other classes at universities and other adult education, including under integration laws, are closed. University and adult education classes to move online.

Sports and leisure:

• Organised sports and leisure activities allowed for children and adults.
• Gyms may open for use of residents in municipality.
• Swimming pools and similar may open for swimming lessons, training for children and people under 20, as well as for use by professional athletes and for rehabilitation and similar treatments.
• Libraries may open.
• Cultural, leisure and sports facilities may open for children and young people under 20, and for outdoors activities for adults.

Work:

• Working from home mandatory wherever possible. Employers are obliged to facilitate this.

Shops:

• As Level ‘B’ and ‘C’.

Restaurants, cafes and bars:

• Business which serve food may open.
• Ban on serving alcohol applies.

Other businesses which must close:

• Gyms, amusement parks, bingo halls, bowling alleys, museums, cinemas, theatres and concert halls.
• Swimming pools, spa facilities, all other indoor cultural leisure or entertainment centres if not encompassed by exceptions (see above)

Face masks:

• Generally required in all public places, including public transport and taxis, when it is not possible to maintain a 1-metre distance.
• This does not apply to children under 12.

Source: Regjeringen

The municipalities under stricter localised measures at the time of writing are:

Level A

Bergen, Kvam and Ulvik.

Level B

Alver, Askøy, Bjørnafjorden, Eidfjord, Osterøy, Samnanger, Ullensvang, Vaksdal, Voss and Øygarden.

Level C

Halden, Oslo and Sarpsborg.

Level D

Asker, Bærum, Fredrikstad, Hvaler, Indre Østfold, Lillestrøm, Lunner, Lørenskog, Moss, Nittedal, Nordre Follo, Rakkestad, Rælingen, Råde, Skiptvet, Våler and Ås.