Eases the visiting rules in Bergen – but tightens into the nightlife – VG

This was stated by City Councilor Roger Valhammer (Labor Party) in Bergen during today’s press conference.

– We have not got the infection down as we want. At the same time, we have not experienced the exponential growth that we feared. The situation could have been worse, but it could also have been better, he says.

The fact that there is less pressure on the health service and that more people have been vaccinated means that the city council does not sound the full alarm. Nevertheless, the measures are not enough, he emphasizes. Hence he comes with both relief and austerity.

And a very clear message to the people of Bergen:

– We need you. People need to turn on the corona brain, he says.

This is how the rules in Bergen will be now

The new rules apply from Thursday 13 May to 26 May.

Continued measures:

• Red level in schools with infection
• The bandage order

Measures that change:

• Pubs and cafes: Now these places must make sure that guests keep a meter distance if they are not from the same household throughout the visit, there is a bandage when they move around and the sound level must go down.
• The rule for visits to private homes is changed from a maximum of two guests to a maximum of five.
• Measures against children and young people are being eased again, but it is still stipulated in regulations that matches cannot be carried out indoors.
• The recommendation for a home office is strengthened.

– Even if we move this boundary; Meet each other outside rather than inside and have as few guests as possible, says Valhammer.

The trend in the registered infection in Bergen has been rising since 10 May after having been alternately flat and declining since 22 April, VG’s overview shows:

– The infection has stabilized at a high level

Bergen municipality had the total drinking stop lifted on 16 April – then with the opportunity to serve alcohol until 10 pm if you eat in addition. At the same time, the municipality has had strict local rules for visits to private homes – with a limit of a maximum of two guests, which is now being eased.

– Despite strict rules, there is no decline in infection rates, says infection control chief Frank van Betten.

According to him, the infection in Bergen has now stabilized at a high level – but decreased among young people in their teens. At the same time, it has doubled in the age group 20–29.

– With a Russian celebration starting, we hope that we will be able to prevent an exponential development in the infection. The time we enter is a time with many public holidays and long weekends, says the chief infection control officer, and reminds that it is still very important to remember the general infection control rules.

Wondering which corona measures apply where you live? Check VG’s overview here!

The Indian variety may be more resistant to treatment

I april it became clear that the mutation of the coronavirus called B. 1617, which was first discovered in India, had been detected in Bergen. The highly contagious mutation of the coronavirus has been found in 44 countries around the world, writes the World Health Organization on Wednesday.

The Indian virus variant contains mutations from both the L452R mutation and the E484Q mutation.

– The combination of these two mutations in the same virus has not been previously proven in Norway, said department director at the National Institute of Public Health (NIPH) Line Vold when the variant was discovered in Norway a month ago.

Earlier this week, the WHO declared the Indian mutation a variant of the coronavirus it was cause for concern and put it on the list of similar mutations, the British, the Brazilian and the South African, all of which are considered more dangerous than that. original virus.

Preliminary findings also suggest that the B. 1617 variant is more resistant to treatment and that the effect of vaccines may be limited against the virus, according to NTB.

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