OPENS: Bergen is among the cities that are now opening up, after the government’s easing of the national measures came into force on Friday. Already this week, there may be new local initiatives. Photo: Hallgeir Vågenes
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On the same day as one can get an outdoor beer after relief in the national measures, Bergen is considering introducing new measures to reduce the infection among children and young people.
Just updated
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The reopening starts on Friday after the government announced on Tuesday that the national measures could return to the level before March 23. This also applies to Bergen, where the population can on Friday have an outdoor beer in the sun.
At a press conference on Friday afternoon, City Councilor Roger Valhammer (Labor Party) in Bergen also announces new measures in the fight against the spread of the coronavirus.
Bergen now has a rising infection, and on Thursday the municipality had a meeting with the National Institute of Public Health. FHI expressed concern about the infection situation, Valhammer said during the press conference.
NIPH therefore recommends the municipality to consider introducing targeted measures.
During the weekend, the city council will evaluate these measures and present them on Monday.
– We hope it keeps going in purposefully to strike down the infection where it spreads most, says Valhammer.
These are the measures FHI recommends Bergen to consider:
- Red level in schools and kindergartens in areas with high infection pressure
- Restrictions on sports and leisure activities for children and young people
- Restrictions on events and social gatherings
- Use of face masks where the distance requirement cannot be complied with
In the graph below you can see the development of infection in Bergen:
Indian variant proven in Bergen
On Friday, it became known that an Indian variant of the coronavirus, called B.1617, has become proven in Bergen. This is the first case in Norway.
The virus variant consists of both a mutation seen in the Californian variant of the virus and a mutation that is very similar to the mutation seen in the Brazilian and South African variants.
– It is suspected that this variant may also have increased infectivity, but we have no indications at present that it may be more contagious than the English, for example, says Line Vold, department director at the National Institute of Public Health.
She says that FHI closely monitors the virus variant.
– It is listed as one of the variants that are followed internationally, but not among the mutations that have been raised the biggest concern around, says Vold.
Is there anything that points in the direction that we will be able to get outbreaks of the Indian variant?
– We only have information about this one case. We are constantly discovering new variants in patients, and this is something that is followed up locally. A huge effort is being made in municipalities around the country to stop infection chains of all variants with coronavirus, says Vold, who points out that FHI assists the municipalities and follows up by accepting virus samples for whole genome sequencing.
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