– We have an increase in infection and unknown routes of infection in Stavanger and the surrounding regions. The situation is challenging and we also see that it takes time before people test themselves. At the same time, we experience that there are several gatherings in the region, which may indicate that many see themselves finished with corona here, says health director Runar Johannessen in Stavanger municipality to Dagbladet on Wednesday afternoon.
But the region is not finished.FHI estimates that the R-number in the region from 1 June to today is as high as 2.2.
This means that the infection trend is increasing.
“Wild infections are increasing and infection rates are high. The mayors of Stavanger, Sandnes, Sola and Randaberg are considering introducing stricter infection control measures, and on Thursday the mayors of Nord-Jæren will once again consider stricter infection control measures “, according to Aftenbladet.
Health director Johannessen describes the situation as confusing. The region, like the rest of the country, has eased a number of restrictions.
– The challenge now is that it will be demanding to put an end to this outbreak via PRINTING alone, and without other austerity measures, in the same period as a reopening, he says.
TISK is an abbreviation – for testing (in case of suspected disease) – isolation (of covid-19 patients) – infection detection and quarantine.
The head of health adds that the health service had neither envisioned nor been rigged to double the TISK capacity by the summer, but that they are considering ending the outbreak.
– We must all the way assess the proportionality of the measures, and have adjusted somewhat at the levels in kindergartens and SFO. We see that we have fewer hospitalizations and the seriously ill, but at the same time there are more in quarantine – also in the smaller municipalities around us – and it is clear this gives a reduction in other services in covid work, and reduces capacity, he says.
– I am worried that it may be difficult to turn this down, and that it will take some time. I am also concerned about the strength this will require of the staff in the affected municipalities, he adds.
In the last 24 hours, 28 new cases have been registered on Nord-Jæren, according to NTB. Half are in Stavanger.
Reducing the outbreak in the region, without taking stricter measures, can take time, believes health director Johannessen,
– How long, then?
– From experience, similar outbreaks take from three to five weeks before the figures are reduced, but there are other austerity measures and measures than those that apply now.
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Wild infection
The head of health says that he feels that there is no control over the infection situation in the region now, and answers in the affirmative that this is so-called wild infection.
– What kind of recommendations will you make to the crisis meeting that will be held tomorrow?
– I think there is a need for a joint recommendation from central authorities to the municipal directors. It would have been nice if we were professionally and politically aligned in what we are going to do now.
– But with an R-number of 2.2 – what does it really take?
– Knocking this down without tightening can be difficult. We have capacity now, but will not have it if this develops further. There may therefore be a need for clearer central guidance. Should we crack this down as hard as before, or should we accept more infection and deal with it? In any case, it is very challenging to reduce this via TISK if no restrictions or limitations are introduced in events, says Johannessen.
– However, we hold back a lot, and have, among other things, recommendations to have no more than ten guests. We have so far not seen any improvement with the measures that are in force, he adds.
– Challenging
Johannesen says there is great variation in where people have been infected.
– It first started in the outdoor restaurant, but it is not only where we see it now, and therefore it is not so easy to run targeted measures, he says.
The chief infection officer also says that the age of the infected also varies.
– We have had a couple of days with infected people in the age group 0 – 60 years. We also see an increase in the age group 40 – 50. Until now, there may have been the most young people, and there is still the most infection among those in their 20s and 30s, but we see that it is spreading to other age groups, says Johannessen .
– The oldest seem to be shielded, probably as a result of having been vaccinated. But in any case, it is challenging to let this go free. We must also take into account reports that a covid-19 infection can have other side effects in people of all age groups, he adds.
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– Not easy to achieve
– Do people follow the current infection advice?
– It varies enough. If everyone had followed the regulations and recommendations strictly, we could have achieved a lot without new further restrictions, but when you now hear from the rest of the country about how well the infection rates are going, it is probably not as easy to achieve.
– I probably do not think that one can expect the same compliance with advice and rules now, as one could before the summer, and after the reopening of the country, he adds.
– What is your most important message to the citizens now?
– In order for us to be able to reverse the infection trend so that people in the region can reach the same level as the rest of the country in this reopening, and be able to relax more, people must now strictly follow the rules and recommendations that apply. There must be a low threshold for testing, and people should think about, and avoid large gatherings, Johannessen answers.
