Employed by Laila Bekkely at Svinesund International Test Center says that they almost do not test anyone at the border crossing anymore. Recently, she feared that the control of the import infection would be even worse, but now the authorities have reversed.
“I think the current situation is frightening considering that the spread of infection is increasing very, very fast, at the same time as we have zero overview of – or control of – the import infection to Norway, neither at airports or border crossings along the road,” Bekkely told Dagbladet.
Figures from Halden municipality show that 378 people tested themselves at the test center during the last three weeks. At most, in week 31, close to 17,000 people were tested at the test center during a week.
– We have nothing to do, especially on night duty. Last night shift, only one car drove past the test station. Border commuters are good at following up border testing, but apart from them, it is completely coincidental if someone drives past the test station on a trip to Norway.
Bekkely is a trained health secretary, and has worked at Svinesund test center since the start in August 2020. She is particularly concerned about everyone who will travel to Norway in connection with Christmas and New Year.
– There are many thousands of Norwegians who can not be vaccinated for medical reasons or who are at risk, and therefore it is terribly scary with import infection.
SVINESUND: Here from Svinesund this summer. Photo: Nina Hansen / Dagbladet
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The authorities turned around
Recently, Bekkely feared that it would soon not be possible to test himself at the border anymore. Director of health and coping in Halden municipality, Veronica Aam, tells Dagbladet that they initiated the closure of the test center a few weeks ago, which meant the dismissal of employees.
– Now only a few dozen people are tested at the test center on Svinesund compared to thousands before, says Aam to Dagbladet and continues:
– As there was no longer a need for so many employees, in addition to the fact that we had no clear indications that we should maintain such a high test capacity, we started closing down the test center a few weeks ago.
But on Monday, the authorities turned around.
– On Monday this week, however, we were informed that the state guarantees further operations in 2021 and 2022, and thus we have initiated upscaling of the capacity at the test center again, says Aam and continues:
– Several of the employees who have received dismissal will be offered new employment. We understand that it is a demanding situation for them, where you can never fully know the scope of the work or how long the test center will continue to operate.
Aam emphasizes that the liquidation was implemented as a precautionary measure.
– We could not risk that Halden municipality was left with the costs of such a large service, without being sure that we were covered the costs from the state.
QUEUE: This is what the queues looked like at the border crossing at Svinesund this summer. Photo: Nina Hansen / Dagbladet
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Entry register
Dagbladet has asked assistant health director Espen Rostrup Nakstad about what the Norwegian authorities are doing to follow up those who are to be tested or quarantined after arriving in Norway.
– Everyone with a test and quarantine obligation must register in the entry register, and everyone who registers in the entry register will receive an SMS from the national control center with information about what obligations you may have when you arrive in Norway. The municipalities also have access to data from the entry register and can through this follow up entrants, says Nakstad to Dagbladet.
The Directorate for Security and Emergency Preparedness (DSB)’s figures shows that at most, 19,508 people registered daily in the entry register. This was in week 31. In comparison, 1313 people registered daily in the entry register in week 43.
Further shows DSBs tall that at most, 10,100 people a week arrived at quarantine hotels. It was in week 22. In comparison, 200 people arrived at quarantine hotels in week 43.
