In the last 24 hours, 475 corona infections have been registered in Norway. That is 202 more than the same day last week. We have to go back to May 26 to find a higher number of infected registered in one day. Then it was 499.
– Do we see the start of a fourth wave of infection now?
– It’s too early to say. The virus now has significantly less chance of spreading as so many have been vaccinated. We therefore do not expect as many cases as this winter, says chief physician Preben Aavitsland at the National Institute of Public Health (NIPH) to Dagbladet.
May hit vulnerable
The superior emphasizes that higher infection rates are less serious now than a few months ago – as a result of almost all elderly and chronically ill people, ie those who are particularly exposed to serious coronary heart disease, being protected through vaccination. He emphasizes that high infection rates are still not beneficial.
– Over time, the high spread of infection in society can also affect vulnerable groups, so we want to keep the epidemic under control, he says and adds:
– It is especially among young unvaccinated adults that the epidemic is spreading now. It is run by a lot of social contact at private parties, at restaurants and at home.
SUPERIOR: Preben Aavitsland, chief physician at the National Institute of Public Health (NIPH). Photo: Tor Erik Schrøder / NTB
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On Monday, a total of 137 cases of infection were registered in the ongoing outbreak in Volda and Ørsta since Monday 26 July. Also in Bergen, there are high infection rates with 48 cases, and acting infection control chief Kjell Haug fears a «significant increase in the number of admissions»In the time to come.
– In week 23-28, there were around 1200 per week with a positive test. In week 29 it was 1494 and in week 30 it was 2241. The increase is significant. We are therefore on guard. We do not currently see any increase in the number of new hospital admissions; the number has been around 20 per week since week 24, says Aavitsland.
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Spread among young people
Aavitsland tells Dagbladet that an increase in infection is expected as a result of the delta variant has become dominant in Norway.
– We see a number of apparently sporadic cases in many municipalities and some major outbreaks, such as in Ålesund, Ørsta and Volda, but a lot of good work is being done so that we expect the outbreaks to be over soon. It is especially among young unvaccinated adults that the epidemic is spreading now. It is run by a lot of social contact at private parties, at restaurants and at home, he says.
– How much infection can we tolerate?
– The government’s goal is that the epidemic should not exceed the health service’s treatment capacity. The hospitals now experience no burden to speak of, and the municipalities handle the mild cases well; few of them need medical attention. We want to keep the epidemic under control, because if there are many cases, the virus can also affect vulnerable groups, says Aavitsland.
3,602,599 people have been vaccinated with the first dose of corona vaccine in Norway, FHI’s statistics showed on Tuesday. 1,823,386 people have received a second dose.
– Increases the likelihood of new mutations
Stable admission numbers
The FHI chief states that any new measures must be in proportion to the threat picture.
– We never assess the number of infections alone, but also look at the number of hospital admissions, which is currently stable, he says, and adds:
– The most important measures take place in the municipalities: vaccination, testing and infection detection. In addition, people still need to follow the advice to stay home in case of symptoms. In young adults, the first symptoms – ie headache, sore throat, fever, cough, runny nose – can be quite mild.
Municipalities that experience major outbreaks can consider local measures aimed at where the infection takes place, he adds.
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