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Norway keeps Covid-19 restrictions in place for national day celebrations

Covid-19 restrictions remain in place during Norway's May 17th national day on Monday for the second year running.

Published: 23 April 2021 17:11 CEST
Updated: 17 May 2021 12:57 CEST
Norway keeps Covid-19 restrictions in place for national day celebrations
A typical May 17th parade Hans Birger Nilsen Flickr

Nationally, parades of up to 200 people are allowed provided social distancing is observed. Restrictions in the capital Oslo are somewhat tighter, with public assembly limited at 10 people.

Local rules should be checked before heading out to any event.

Although coronavirus restrictions have not been eased for May 17th, the deputy director of the Norwegian Directorate of Health Espen Nakstad encouraged the country to enjoy its national day.

“Be considerate to others, avoid crowds and have a nice time,” Nakstad told newspaper VG.

The senior health official also stressed the importance of ensuring visiting family members have no symptoms and are not currently required to isolate.

Up to five people can be invited to celebrate at private homes or gardens, with vaccinated people not counting towards that total.

A family of more than five (from the same household) may be invited if there is enough space to social distance.

“Unvaccinated guests not from the same household should keep a one-meter distance,” Nakstad told VG.

Speaking last month, the Minister for Culture Abid Raja made it clear that restrictions would not eased for the sake of the annual celebration.
 
“I stand here again to say that the pandemic will mark the celebration of our national day this year as well,” Raja said. 
 
“Remember that not gathering is to show care for those you love, for the environment and society,” he added.
 
In general national measures applied on Monday unless there were stricter local measures in place. 
 
 
May 17th, or constitution day, commemorates the signing of Norway’s constitution in 1814. Many people like to meet friends and family, celebrate and have parties.
 
Normally marching bands and parades are also a big part of the day and everyone dresses in their national costume, or bunad. 
 
 
Nakstad earlier said some celebrations would still go ahead. 
 
“Those planning 17th May celebrations can use the infection control advice as a starting point for planning,” he told VG in April.
 
 
The following guidelines were issued ahead of May 17th. 
  • Where events are allowed, gatherings should be avoided across municipal boundaries, and that all planned events should take place locally
  • May 17th parades are covered by Covid-19 restrictions regarding events. If events are advised against or prohibited, then they shouldn’t take place 
  • If there is a risk that children’s parades, which are a big part of May 17th celebrations, will lead to a gathering of people, they should be cancelled. 
  • In areas where events are prohibited, marching bands will still be able to play for residents in announced pop-up performances 
  • Marching band practice ahead of May 17th must follow national and local advice.

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COVID-19

Public Health Agency recommends two Covid doses next year for elderly

Sweden's Public Health Agency is recommending that those above the age of 80 should receive two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine a year, once in the spring and once in the autumn, as it shifts towards a longer-term strategy for the virus.

Published: 23 December 2022 10:53 CET
Public Health Agency recommends two Covid doses next year for elderly

In a new recommendation, the agency said that those living in elderly care centres, and those above the age of 80 should from March 1st receive two vaccinations a year, with a six month gap between doses. 

“Elderly people develop a somewhat worse immune defence after vaccination and immunity wanes faster than among young and healthy people,” the agency said. “That means that elderly people have a greater need of booster doses than younger ones. The Swedish Public Health Agency considers, based on the current knowledge, that it will be important even going into the future to have booster doses for the elderly and people in risk groups.” 

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People between the ages of 65 and 79 years old and young people with risk factors, such as obesity, diabetes, poor kidney function or high blood pressure, are recommended to take one additional dose per year.

The new vaccination recommendation, which will start to apply from March 1st next year, is only for 2023, Johanna Rubin, the investigator in the agency’s vaccination programme unit, explained. 

She said too much was still unclear about how long protection from vaccination lasted to institute a permanent programme.

“This recommendation applies to 2023. There is not really an abundance of data on how long protection lasts after a booster dose, of course, but this is what we can say for now,” she told the TT newswire. 

It was likely, however, that elderly people would end up being given an annual dose to protect them from any new variants, as has long been the case with influenza.

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