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IN DETAIL: Norway unveils more details for how Covid-19 certificate will work

The Norwegian government released more details on Monday for how the Norwegian Covid-19 certificate would work, including when it comes to big events and cruises.

Published: 14 June 2021 18:42 CEST
IN DETAIL: Norway unveils more details for how Covid-19 certificate will work
Picture: picjumbo.com Pexels

Norway’s Covid-19 certificate will be fully introduced for domestic use once step three of the government’s four-step plan for reopening commences, the government announced at a press conference. 

The certificate will effectively enable the country to hold large events such as festivals within Norway and reopen theme parks, theatres, and football matches to the public. 

Domestic cruises will also be given the green light to resume once step three gets underway.

“Through the pandemic, leisure time has been about small and important things. We can soon go to concerts and festivals,” Health Minister Bent Høie told reporters. 

Currently, the Covid pass is only used to allow fully vaccinated travellers and those who have recovered from coronavirus to skip quarantine hotels.

Large events 

The Covid certificate will be used to allow large events to go ahead when the country enters step three of its reopening plan.

Step three is expected to take place in mid-to-late June, meaning the return to the terraces for football fans and the joys of a live show for theatre aficionados isn’t too far off. 

The government has released an app for the organisers of large events that will scan the QR codes on peoples Covid certificates. 

The QR code used as part of the certificate is based on info from Norway’s digital health portal, helsenorge, which handles all the info on individuals’ testing and vaccination status in the country. 

When scanned the QR will glow green if you have been vaccinated, recently returned a negative coronavirus test, or have had COVID-19 in the previous six months.

Mass events will not be allowed to go ahead in areas with high infection levels or areas under strict local measures. 

Testing

The health minister also revealed extra details when it comes to tests. A negative coronavirus test will only be valid on the certificate for up to 24 hours. 

“A corona test is a snapshot. Therefore a test is valid for only 24 hours,” Health Minister Høie said. 

Høie also said that testing will be free for organisers of events. The government is working on a solution where the state will reimburse private test providers for providing extra test capacity at large events. 

Capacity 

Details on capacity were also announced at the press conference.

Crowds of up to 1,000 people will be allowed at events with a seating or standing plan for guests, and up to 2,000 people can gather at events outdoors if there is no designated plan. 

Up to 5,000 people will be allowed to gather outside where there is a seating plan or designated areas in place, and 2,500 people may be in attendance when an indoor seating arrangement is in place. 

Venues will only be allowed to operate at 50 percent capacity. For example, a football stadium of 10,000 will only be able to admit 5,000 fans. 

You can read more on the capacity for events here. 

Cruises 

Domestic cruises will also be given the go-ahead during step three. 

The health minister did not say how many people would be allowed on a cruise ship but did say there would be a high limit in place. 

In addition to this, he also said that just a negative test would be required to embark on a cruise. 

No exceptions for children 

Children will not be exempt from needing a corona certificate to get into large events. 

Parents are able to request access to children’s Covid certificates. 

How to access the Covid certificate 

The health certificate is currently only available from Norway’s digital health portal helsenorge. 

READ MORE: EXPLAINED: How to access Norway’s Covid certificate

Helsenorge is Norway’s digital health portal where all info on individuals’ testing and vaccination status in Norway is uploaded.

The certificate can be accessed via the helsenorge app, which is available on Android or iPhone, or via helsenorge.no.

To log in and view the certificate, you will need a level four security clearance electronic ID. BankID, Buypass and Commfides are the IDs you’ll be able to use to log in and view the vaccine pass. 

READ MORE: Everything foreigners in Norway need to know about electronic IDs

Paper Covid certificate 

Health authorities are currently working on a paper version of the certificate that will be ready in a few weeks. 

“We are working on a solution for the 110,000 people who can not use a PC,” Gun Peggy Strømstad Knudsen, director at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, said. 

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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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