Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Labor Party) has announced some coronal relief, but is not ready to allow much more strain on the Norwegian health care system.
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– Those who work in the health care system are used to being under pressure, but I will not accept the proposal that says that now we let the health care system take the brunt that comes and then we let go. It is irresponsible, and those who suffer the most from it, are the weakest among us: Those who get sick, says Støre to NTB.
The number of corona patients in Norwegian hospitals has fallen sharply in the last week. The number is down to 246 on Saturday against 325 patients on Monday.
The pressure on the health service is still the main reason why Norwegians have to live with intrusive coronary measures. But many, including City Councilor Raymond Johansen (Labor Party) in Oslo, have questioned whether the hospital capacity is actually so pressured that it is justified to keep thousands of jobs closed in the nightlife.
– The main reason for the measures is to have a health service that can do its job and provide everyone who becomes ill with safe and proper health care, and we have done that by now. But there is a great burden on those who work in the hospitals, says Støre.
Control
The most labor-intensive corona patients are in the intensive care units, and on Saturday there are a total of 97 intensive care patients admitted with corona, a decrease from 108 on Monday.
According to the government, Norway has 647 intensive care units available during normal emergency preparedness, and currently just under 300 of these are in use.
Although the number of corona patients in the hospitals has decreased, Støre is clear that the measures will last until 14 January before they are revised.
– I remind you that when we made those decisions in mid-December, many of the reactions were that it was not very powerful. Then we have had control over the spread of infection and hospitalizations, which makes people think that it is too intrusive. And I understand that, especially those who feel that they are losing their jobs, that the company is being discontinued, that they are affected in everyday life, says Støre, who announced on Friday that there will be some relief on 14 January.
– Rough time
The Prime Minister points out that the pressure on the hospitals has been great over time, and that it has been a tough time for the employees.
– It is also a tough time out in the municipalities, in the municipal health services, in the nursing homes, ambulances, GP offices. I saw that the director of health said that 170 municipalities said that they were very close to the breaking point in capacity and staffing, so that is a main reason for the measures.
He reminds that the infection must still be kept under control.
– If very many get sick at the same time, then it is a challenge for other important functions in society as well.
– Norway is not shut down
The Prime Minister says that the government is now working on the regulations for a corona certificate that can help vaccinated people to live more normally.
He emphasizes that there are still many countries that have stricter measures than Norway.
– Norway is not shut down. We have contact-reducing measures, which particularly affect the nightlife industry and restaurants. It hurts to see that they are not allowed to drive as normal, and that many have to stay closed.
Støre points out that the schools are mainly open, that public transport runs, and that most workplaces function as normal, albeit with a lot of use of home offices.
– We want us to get our schools to the green level as soon as we can, and that the measures should be as unobtrusive as possible for people’s lives, especially the vulnerable and young. But we also want a healthcare system that can still operate and give us security. That is what we steer by, he says.
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