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TODAY IN NORWAY

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

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

Pictured are the snow capped mountains of the Lyngen Alps
Health authorities have said that Omicron variant may have already made its way to Norway undetected and the health minister has said that the government will continue to assess measures aimed at reducing the spread of Omicron. Pictured are the Lyngen Alps in Troms and Finnmark. Photo by Kevin Bessat on Unsplash

Health authority: Omicron variant may have come to Norway undetected 

The Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) has published a risk assessment of the Covid-19 Omicron variant, recently discovered in southern Africa. 

The report found that the variant may have already made it to Norway undetected. The NIPH also said, based on the limited research and information it has so far, that the variant was more contagious than the Delta variant but appeared to be less likely to cause more severe illness. 

“The Omicron variant of the coronavirus has not been detected in Norway yet, but there is a possibility that it has also arrived in Norway without it being detected. It is likely that the variant is more contagious than the delta variant and will spread to Norway, but it is so far unlikely that the variant causes more serious disease,” the report stated

Camilla Stoltenberg, director of the NIPH, reiterated that little was currently known about the new variant. 

“There is still very limited knowledge about this new variant. There is, therefore, great uncertainty about the properties of the variant and its further development. The knowledge will increase day by day in the future,” she said in the report. 

The government will continue to assess measures with the aim of slowing down Omicron variant

Norway’s health minister, Ingvild Kjerkol, has said that the government will consider new pandemic measures on an ongoing basis, with the aim being to slow down the spread of the Omicron variant. 

READ MORE: Norway tightens travel rules to limit import of Omicron Covid-19 variant

In a risk assessment of the Omicron variant on Sunday, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) said it was desirable to stop local outbreaks of the variant recently discovered in Southern Africa until more was known about it. 

“We have a close and ongoing dialogue with the NIPH about this development. The Omicron variant has not yet been proven in Norway, but there is a possibility that it has come here without being detected. We implemented several measures on Friday and will continuously assess whether there is a need for further measures,” Kjerkol told newswire NTB. 

Electricity price record for southern Norway to be shattered

The current electricity price record in southern Norway of an average of 1.87 kroner per kilowatt-hour is set to be smashed on Monday. 

The average price throughout the day will be 2.56 kroner per kilowatt-hour, excluding grid rent, fees and surcharges. 

When taxes are accounted for, most customers will be paying 5-6 kroner per kWh at peak times. 

1,721 new Covid-19 cases 

On Sunday, 1,721 new Covid-19 cases were registered in Norway, 251 more than the same day the week prior. 

Over the last seven days, an average of 2,572 Covid-19 infections has been recorded per day. The same average the week before was 2,055.

A graph showing the total number of Covid-19 cases in Norway.
Total number of Covid-19 cases in Norway. Source: Norwegian Institute of Public Health.

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For members

TODAY IN NORWAY

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

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

Pictured is Holmenkollen in Oslo.
Read about the interval between doses two and three being shortened and the death of Kåre Willoch in today's roundup of important news. Pictured is Holmenkollen in Oslo. Photo by Michael Ankes on Unsplash

Tributes paid to Kåre Willoch 

The former prime minister and Conservative Party leader Kåre Willoch passed away yesterday aged 93. King Harold, prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre and former PM Erna Solberg were among those to pay tribute to Willoch. 

“He was a very gracious and nice person who was concerned with people and political issues,” Solberg said. 

The former PM pointed to Willoch’s modernisation reform in Norway as his most significant political legacy. 

“The most important thing he did was the modernisation of Norway,” she said. 

Health minister to decide on new Covid-19 measures

New coronavirus measures are on their way in Norway, with the health minister, Ingvild Kjerkol, set to decide on new restrictions following a rise in infections, outbreaks of the Omicron variant and parts of the health service nearing capacity. 

“There will be measures we will notice in our everyday lives,” Kjerkol said to public broadcaster NRK

“The situation is demanding, and that is the reason why we are now looking at new measures. We have a health service that is in full swing, and our goal is to have control of the pandemic, in the form that the municipalities and hospitals are able to provide proper health care,” Kjerkol explained.

READ ALSO: How could Norway’s Covid-19 restrictions be tightened this week?

The minister didn’t reveal any details on what could be announced but said that decisions would be made on Tuesday. 

Coronavirus booster vaccine interval shortened 

The interval between vaccine doses two and three for those aged between 64 and 45 will be shortened by a month, Norway’s health ministry has announced

The interval will now be five months when it was previously six. All adults with serious underlying conditions and those working in the health and care sectors will also have the interval cut. 

One in three think Covid-19 measures are too relaxed

A third of Norwegians feel that the current Covid measures in place in Norway are insufficient and need tightening, according to a survey conducted by Norstat for public broadcaster NRK.

Ten percent said the measures were too comprehensive, and just under 50 percent said that the current level of action was appropriate. 

4,117 new Covid-19 cases in Norway

On Monday, 4,117 new Covid-19 cases were registered in Norway. That is 1,240 more cases than the same day last week. 

As of yesterday, 295 people were hospitalised with Covid-19. 

A graph showing the number of weekly cases in Norway.
The total number of weekly cases in Norway throughout the pandemic. Source: Norwegian Institute of Public Health.
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