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Today in Norway: A roundup of the latest news on Thursday 

Find out what's going on in Norway on Thursday with The Local's short roundup of important news.     

Today in Norway: A roundup of the latest news on Thursday 
Oslo Operahus. Photo by Arvid Malde on Unsplash

Norway unveils plans to offer Johnson & Johnson vaccine to volunteers 

Norway will offer the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine to volunteers from June 15th, the government announced on Wednesday.  

This is despite various health authorities in the Nordic country advising the government that the risks outweigh the benefits. 

Strict conditions, including a medical consultation, will apply to anybody who wants to be vaccinated with the single-dose vaccine. 

Only certain people will be eligible for the vaccine, including those who need to travel to countries with high levels of infection, those who – for various reasons – are unable to wait their turn to be vaccinated, and those who have loved ones suffering from severe forms of cancer. 

Doctors will have the final say on who will receive the jab voluntarily. 

“The patient has the right to weigh in on the decision but cannot demand to receive the vaccine. Doctors will have the final say,” Health Minister Bent Høie told reporters at a press conference.

Neighbouring Denmark offers both Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca, which Norway dropped entirely in May, to volunteers.

Face masks and WFH to continue in Oslo well into the summer 

Oslo will not be dropping face mask requirements or the advice for its citizens to work from home anytime soon, the capital’s executive mayor has said. 

“Face masks and the home office are some of the very last things we will change,” Executive Mayor of Oslo Raymond Johansen told newspaper Aftenposten.

On Tuesday, Oslo announced that it was extending current coronavirus measures until June 18th after cases rose by 87 percent last week. 

READ MORE: Oslo extends coronavirus measures after cases rise by 87 percent  

The city is currently on step two of its five-step plan to reopen and lift measures. 

First-time buyers can afford fewer than one percent of homes in Oslo 

Just under one percent of property in Oslo is within the reach of first-time buyers, according to a new report from The Co-operative Housing Federation of Norway (NBBL). 

“The numbers are now so serious that the alarm bells should ring,” Bård Folke Fredrikson from NBBL told financial paper E24

READ ALSO: Property in Norway: What to expect if you’re buying a home in Oslo 

In 2010, 39 percent of first-time buyers could afford to get on the property ladder in Oslo, compared to just 0.9 percent today. 

Highest number of drug overdoses for 20 years

There were 324 drug overdose-related deaths in Norway last year, the highest number of overdoses since 2001. 

Pandemic restrictions and more potent heroin may be among the explanations, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health has said. 

“There is a particularly large increase in deaths as a result of opioids, such as morphine, codeine and heroin,” senior researcher from the NIPH drug and tobacco department, Linn Gjersing, outlined in a report

212 new Covid infections 

On Wednesday, 212 new coronavirus cases were registered in Norway, a decrease of 28 compared to the seven-day average of 240. 

In Oslo, 61 new cases of infection were registered, 16 fewer cases than the seven-day average for the capital. 

The R-number or reproduction rate in Norway is currently 0.9. This means that every ten people that are infected will, on average, only infect another nine people, indicating that the infection level is declining.

Number of Covid cases in Norway. Source: NIPH

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TRAVEL NEWS

Should you choose the ferry between Oslo and Copenhagen over flying?

Many are put off by the thought of packed airports, swamped motorways and overcrowded trains. So, is the longer journey from Oslo to Copenhagen via ferry a better solution?

Should you choose the ferry between Oslo and Copenhagen over flying?

Several travel links connect the capitals of Norway and Denmark. Thanks to rail, road, and flight connections, travellers can journey between the two cities over land, air, and sea.

Flying is the most popular option, given flights take just over an hour. Even when you need to be at the airport two hours before the flight, it’s still quicker than the road (seven hours) and rail links (eight hours).

The frequency of flights also means that tickets are relatively cheap. Meanwhile, the boat between Oslo and Copenhagen, operated by DFDS, takes roughly 19 hours.

READ ALSO: What are the alternatives to Norway’s busiest flight routes?

The pros

Despite the long journey, the ferry connecting the two capitals remains popular with travellers.

For starters. It’s perhaps the most comfortable way to complete the journey, even if it takes considerably longer.

If you are travelling with kids or pets, they don’t need to be cooped up either and can stretch their legs.

You also don’t need to worry about luggage. Those travelling by car can leave the bulk of their luggage in the vehicle while bringing toiletries and other essentials to their cabins. Meanwhile, those not bringing a car aboard can travel with what they can carry.

The ferry can be considered an experience in and of itself. The DFDS ferry has bars and restaurants, making it more like a mini cruise ship than a ferry. There are also kids’ activities, as well as a pool, sauna, and jacuzzi.

Wi-Fi can be ordered onboard, meaning that if your job allows remote work, you could work instead of losing the day to travel.

The journey into and out of Oslo passes through the Oslofjord. This offers great views all year round, and in the summer months, you could enjoy the journey from one of the outdoor areas.

The boat could be a more relaxing alternative for those who find travel stressful.

Prices start from around 600 Norwegian kroner, 400 Danish kroner, or 53 euros for a one-way trip with a car. However, this price doesn’t include booking a cabin.

If you are travelling without a car, you could get tickets for considerably less. There’s also the mini cruise offer, which involves a roundtrip with a short five-hour excursion in either Oslo or Copenhagen before heading back aboard.

These tickets are typically heavily discounted and have even previously been given away for free at corporate sports days in Norway.

Those on long trips in Scandinavia or travellers with the luxury of time may also enjoy the change of pace from the usual stresses of airports, traffic jams, and train issues.

The cons

The ferry can be similar to flying in that while cheap tickets are available, the cost of the trip could add up—especially if you are bringing a car aboard.

Furthermore, the current strength of the Danish krone against its Norwegian equivalent can put a squeeze on passengers who primarily use the Norwegian krone.

This is because everything aboard is priced in Danish kroner. Therefore, a day’s surfing on the ship’s Wi-Fi would cost 119 Danish kroner, equivalent to 184 Norwegian kroner.

Once aboard, there are more substantial costs than the Wi-Fi. Given that you’ll be spending 19 hours aboard, you’ll likely want something to eat. A three-course set menu, without drinks, in one of the boat’s restaurants costs 477 Danish kroner or 730 Norwegian kroner.

There are cheaper options on board, but the currency exchange and Scandinavian prices make things very expensive for all but those who primarily use the Danish kroner.

Time is also a factor. If you are okay with airports, long stints driving, or being onboard a train, you could spend some of the time you save opting for those methods actually in Copenhagen or Oslo.

When making round trips, the novelty of the boat may wear off on the return leg, as you will have already spent 19 hours aboard it.

Furthermore, if you haven’t visited Copenhagen or Oslo before, five hours won’t feel like enough time.

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