UNREST: Mayor Elisabeth Helmersen (Labor Party) in Leka municipality in Trøndelag. Photo: Odin Jæger
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Leka municipality has been infection-free during the entire pandemic. The crisis management is now considering closing the island to tourists from infected areas at Easter.
Just updated
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– I’m worried about Easter, because now we’re in the running, and it will be so sad if we miss now. We managed over the Christmas and winter holidays and now we have to manage over the Easter holidays, says mayor Elisabeth Helmersen to VG.
The island is now considering closing for Easter tourism from areas with a lot of infection.
It was Adresseavisen who first mentioned the case.
Here you can read about when VG visited Leka municipality in February. The municipality is one of 13 municipalities that have been infection-free during the entire corona pandemic.
Will decide the week before Easter
The crisis management in the municipality is now considering various measures to prevent infection at Easter, but Helmersen says it is too early to say anything about what the municipality will land on.
– When will you conclude whether the municipality will be closed to Easter tourists?
– A lot can happen in the next couple of weeks, but we will have clear measures within a week before Palm Sunday. At that time, I agree that the government must have made its recommendations, and we can make an assessment of whether we need stricter local measures at Easter, she says.
– Would you like a national cabin ban?
– At this point, it is too early for both the government and others to say anything about a cabin ban would be correct.
—-LEKA: We have also had large costs among our own population in that they have had to follow strict measures. The inhabitants are tired of the pandemic – this applies not only to those who live in the big cities, but throughout the country, says mayor Elisabeth Helmersen in Leka municipality, who has been infection-free during the entire pandemic. Photo: Odin Jæger
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Do not agree with vaccine strategy
In early March, it was announced that it would come changes in vaccine distribution. In the new vaccine distribution, Leka municipality must give up 39 percent of its doses.
The municipality initially receives 12 vaccine doses per week, but the doses will be reduced as early as next week. It happens against Helmersen’s wishes.
The Labor politician has talked to Oslo City Council leader and party colleague Raymond Johansen (Labor Party) about the new vaccine strategy, and confirms that they have different views on how the distribution should be.
– Every mayor is obliged to do what is in the best interests of his people. Raymond Johansen is obliged to do this in Oslo, and he has done so. I have to do the same for my population, otherwise I will fail, she says.
– Very vulnerable
Helmersen believes it could have major consequences if the small island municipality becomes infected.
– A tiny little municipality like ours is very vulnerable.
The only way the virus can reach the island is by sea, she points out.
– This means that the crew are very exposed to being infected, and if many of them have to be quarantined, it is a challenge to have enough crew on the ferry that keeps an eye on the mainland, she says, and adds:
– In addition, we only have two grocery stores – what do we do if there is an infection in both? These are absolutely essential and elementary things I am worried about.
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