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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. 

Norway's government said on November 30th it again recommends face masks be used on public transport and in stores if social distances cannot be maintained.
Norway's government said on November 30th it again recommends face masks be used on public transport and in stores if social distances cannot be maintained. File photo: Christof STACHE / AFP

New national face mask recommendation announced 

In a string of updated Covid-19 measures announced this morning, more of which are detailed below, the government now recommend the use of face masks on public transport and in taxis, as well as in stores and shopping centres.

The recommendations only apply when it is not possible to keep a social distance, however.

Additionally, face masks will also be recommended in health service settings.

We’ll have full detail of the updated guidelines in an article on our website today.

Isolation period extended for confirmed Covid-19 cases

People who test positive for Covid-19 must now isolate for five days regardless of vaccination status, according to tweaked rules announced by the government this morning.

Until now, isolation requirements were minimum two days for vaccinated people without symptoms following a positive Covid-19 test, who could leave quarantine after being fever-free for 48 hours.

People who live with someone who has tested positive for Covid-19 must also quarantine until they test negative for the virus, according to the new rules. This applies to all adults regardless of vaccination status. The test must be taken after seven days at the earliest. Unvaccinated people are required to test daily with antigen tests or every other day with PCR tests during the seven-day interval.

Government wants working from home and testing at schools in high Covid-19 areas 

Municipalities in which the local incidence of Covid-19 is high should consider asking their residents to return to working from home, the government said on Tuesday morning.

“Additionally, we extend the recommendation for regular testing at schools in areas with high transmission and high strain on health and care services,” Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said in comments reported by newspaper VG.

Norway rules out 2022 oil licences in ‘virgin areas’
Norway will not grant new oil exploration licences in virgin or little-explored areas in 2022 under a political compromise on Monday, news wire AFP reports.

The decision hands a modest victory to opponents of fossil fuels.

The governing centre-left coalition supports continuing oil and gas activities but does not have a parliamentary majority, making it reliant on socialist MPs who prioritise green issues.

831 new cases of Covid-19 detected in Oslo

A total of 831 new cases of Covid-19 were registered in Oslo in the latest daily update. This is 204 more than a week ago as well the highest ever figure for the capital, beating the 680 recorded on August 30th.

A large proportion of infections are within the 10-19-year age group, broadcaster NRK writes.

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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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