Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK
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. 

Published: 7 December 2021 09:22 CET
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.

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.
For members

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. 

Published: 6 December 2021 09:18 CET
Pictured is Tromsø with a view of the arctic cathedral.
The health minister has said that more measures could be on their way as early as this week. Pictured is the arctic cathedral in Tromsø. Photo by Alex Kulikov on Unsplash

Stricter Covid measures potentially coming this week

Following rising infections and several outbreaks of the recently discovered Omicron Covid-19 variant, the government is mulling over tightening restrictions further, health minister, Ingvild Kjerkol, has said. 

“We have control of the pandemic, but there have been several outbreaks where the Omicron is suspected. We have a restriction associated with cases where the variant is suspected, such as longer isolation and quarantine for household members. I am concerned, and we are looking at further measures regionally and nationally,” Kjerkol told newspaper VG. 

READ ALSO: What to expect if you are travelling to and from Norway this Christmas

The health minister added that Norway’s health authorities, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and the Norwegian Directorate of Health were assessing new regional and national measures. 

Kjerkol also said the government was considering tighter travel rules domestically and internationally and added that health authorities were considering shortening the interval between the second and third doses. 

Norwegians don’t mind the idea of receiving a used Christmas gift

Three-quarters of Norwegians aren’t against the prospect of receiving a used Christmas gift, according to a survey by data collection firm Norstat conducted for public broadcaster NRK.

Additionally, just under half of those surveyed said they would be a little bit more or much more satisfied with a gift if it was given with consideration for the climate. 

In general, the survey showed that men were more opposed to receiving used gifts than women. 

READ ALSO: What you should know if you’re invited to a Norwegian ‘julebord’

Despite many saying they wouldn’t mind receiving used gifts, a large proportion of people said that it could be challenging to give a pre-loved present. 

Anja Bakken Riise from environmental organisation, The Future in Our Hands said that those open to receiving a used gift should tell their loved ones to make them more assured about gifting something that’s been used. 

“Actively tell those around you that you are happy to receive a used Christmas gift because then it will be much easier to give it too,” she told NRK. 

2,567 Covid-19 cases in Norway

On Sunday, 2,567 coronavirus infections were registered in Norway. This is 855 more cases than the previous Sunday, but 812 cases less than the average for the previous seven days. 

Total number of weekly cases recorded during the pandemic.
The total number of weekly Covid-19 cases in Norway. Source: Norwegian Institute of Public Health.
SHOW COMMENTS