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Covid-19 measures eased in Oslo

Local Covid restrictions have been relaxed in Oslo to bring rules more in line with national measures in Norway. Here's what you need to know.

Published: 1 July 2021 13:02 CEST
Updated: 5 July 2021 10:18 CEST

Covid-19 measures eased in Oslo

Oslo has lifted a number of measures. Photo by Marian Rotea on Unsplash

The Norwegian capital has dropped its local coronavirus rules for the home office, serving times and big events like concerts and festivals.

“Infection rates in Oslo continue to decline, and at the moment, there are only four patients admitted to hospital with Covid-19. This means it’s possible to remove some of the last local restrictions that are left in Oslo,” Raymond Johansen, Oslo’s executive mayor, said in a statement announcing the changes last Thursday.

Alcohol can now be served past midnight, although venues can’t let any new guests in past midnight.

The rules for big events will also mirror national rules. Up to 5,000 spectators can attend events such as concerts and football matches using Norway’s Covid-19 certificate from today.

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

In addition to this, the local requirement to work from home will be lifted and replaced with the government recommendation that workers slowly start migrating back to the office.

“The use of a home office has been absolutely critical to reduce mobility and reduce contact. When levels of infection are as low as they are now, it is no longer right to require a home office,” Johansen said.

Infection control measures such as social distancing of 1 metre will still be in place in workplaces.

The local rules to use face masks on public transport and taxis, to avoid using public transport, and special rules for construction sites will continue.

Last week, a total of 124 coronavirus infections were registered in the capital and there have been 224 Covid cases recorded over the past week.

More than 37,000 coronavirus cases have been recorded in Oslo since March last year.

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Potential bankruptcy threatens bus services in Oslo

Unibuss, which is wholly owned by Oslo Municipality, is in danger of going bust due to large losses, unpaid bills, and fines from public transport firm Ruter for issues with its electric bus fleet this winter.

Oslo City Council will hold an emergency meeting headed up by transport councilor Marit Vea on Wednesday, where she will be grilled on how the council will avert a collapse in the city’s public transport network should Unibuss go bankrupt.

Unibuss is comprised of four smaller companies that operate bus routes in Oslo on behalf of Ruter. The company has just over 370 buses in operation and covers around 60 to 70 percent of the routes in Oslo and the neighboring municipality of Bærum.

Oslo’s fleet of electric busses struggled especially with snow and cold temperatures this winter, which caused frequent chaos across the capital’s public transport network.

Snow, ice, range and charging issues for the busses lead to vehicle shortages which caused mass delays and cancellations several times over the winter.

Ruter, which is also part owned by Oslo municipality, believes that the financial problems facing Unibuss mean the company could be forced to file for bankruptcy or undergo a major restructuring, according to a memo obtained by publication Teknisk Ukeblad.

It has previously told public broadcaster that it was working on a plan in case Unibuss goes bankrupt.

“There is no doubt that the first days of such a scenario will be very demanding for the residents of Oslo and parts of Akershus,” Ruter’s communications director Elisabeth Skarsbø Moen told public broadcaster NRK.

“First and foremost, we are working to find a solution together with Unibuss that does not affect Ruter’s customers,” she said.

“But as those responsible for public transport, we have both a plan and an emergency organization ready to also handle a bankruptcy,” Skarsbø Moen added.

Should Unibuss go bankrupt, its buses would become part of the bankruptcy estate and if such an event were to occur while passengers were in transit, all passengers would need to disembark at the next stop so the buses can be transported to the depot.

Ruter said it had an eye on the market to try and see what could be available in terms of extra buses and equipment.

It said that its priority would be to ensure that school transport, and that healthcare workers could get to work, in the event of a sudden lack of buses.

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