SØRLANDSIDYLL: Outbreaks and infection have come to Grimstad. This is what it looked like on the quay on Wednesday afternoon. Photo: Hallgeir Vagenes
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The outbreak with 55 corona infected in Grimstad, has put up to 3650 inhabitants in the municipality in quarantine or waiting quarantine.
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– In two days, we received more positive cases than we had last year, says communications manager Petter Toldnæs to VG.
The municipality expects that the number in quarantine will increase as they get more tested. Up to 3650 out of 24,000 inhabitants in the municipality are now in quarantine. This is what Toldnæs explains to VG on Thursday morning.
VG first wrote that the number was 4000, as Fædrelandsvennen states, but Toldnæs says this is not true:
– There is a minimum of 650 in imposed quarantine as a result of being close contacts, Toldnæs says to VG. The head of communications estimates that there are an additional 2,500 to 3,000 inhabitants in the waiting quarantine.
– This is still one extremely demanding situation, now we get help from our neighboring municipalities with the tests. said Toldnæs The Friend of the Fatherland Wednesday evening.
On their websites writes the municipality that they expect a further increase in the number of infected in the coming days.
– Now we have to see what happens in the next few days, but we expect to find more infected, says municipal chief physician Vegard Vige to VG.
– Shock
– I think many in Grimstad got a little shock, says Toldnæs about the transition from the expected end of the summer holidays to a full outbreak of infection.
Toldnæs says that the municipality will spend the next few days looking at the results of the extensive screening the municipality has done of the city’s young people in anticipation of any measures.
– A local regulation is a bit like rice behind the mirror, and will be recommended if needed. Right now, we are especially asking the age group 15–20, and everyone else, for a local charity event where every single inhabitant of Grimstad does their utmost to limit the number of close contacts, says Toldnæs.
– I really experience that the inhabitants take this seriously. We saw a subdued Sankthans celebration yesterday. We appreciate that immensely.
Outbreaks in the youth environment
The outbreak has largely affected the young communities in the municipality. Grimstad has asked everyone between the ages of 15 and 20 to get tested. That amounts to 2005 people.
VG joined Liam (15) at the test station on Wednesday: Read the case here
– There are some fifty teenagers who are infected, Vige confirms to VG on Thursday morning.
We are talking about people in school classes, friends and families.
– The young people have heard that the pandemic is over, and they do not get very ill for the most part, says the municipal chief.
– They have probably been more concerned with partying and fun than thinking about the pandemic.
Vige says that Grimstad is a good example of how fast outbreaks can occur now that measures are being released.
Ask people to stay home
In addition to testing, the municipality has asked all young people to cancel social events and stay at home. Nevertheless, they have decided not to introduce stricter infection measures – at least for the time being.
– Is it a joke for the summer holidays?
– In the municipality, we get a massive task at the same time as the holiday is on its way, says Vige, who admits that the handling will be demanding.
He says they have to see what happens in the next few days. An alternative could be to reintroduce more restrictions.
– The catering industry and the business community have behaved excellently through the pandemic, but Grimstad is a summer town and this poses a risk to the entire business community.
—-Mayor Beate Skretting (H) and municipal chief physician Vegard Vige. – Now we have to see what happens in the next few days, but we expect to find more infected, Vige says to VG. Photo: Hallgeir Vågenes, VG
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– We follow the situation very closely and assess this continuously, says mayor Beate Skretting (H) to VG after Wednesday’s press conference.
– The challenge is that this is mainly about the group 15-18, which would not have been affected by a closure of restaurants anyway, she continues.
The municipality will meet the State Administrator and representatives from the National Institute of Public Health on Friday to discuss the situation further.
“No unmanageable number”
Assistant health director Espen Rostrup Nakstad tells VGTV that it is a demanding outbreak for the municipality.
– There are very many, and there are many to be tested, and the infection tracking work is demanding.
At the same time, he emphasizes that 55 confirmed cases of infection are not an unmanageable number in themselves.
– As long as you have a good overview of where the 55 people have been while they have been contagious, Nakstad says.
When asked what Nakstad thinks about the fact that the municipality has not yet introduced further measures, he answers the following:
– This is something the municipality considers itself, and they are in ongoing dialogue with NIPH which provides good advice. I do not know the details of where this has happened, whether it has been indoors, whether it has been in connection with an event, or whether there are other circumstances that make you feel quite sure of where the risk is.
Ten cases in Arendal
In the last two days, ten infected people have also been registered in the neighboring municipality of Arendal. Eight cases on Tuesday are linked to the larger eruption in Grimstad, writes NTB.
Correction: In an earlier version of this case, it was written that 4000 were quarantined. The municipality states that this is incorrect. The correct one should be up to 3650. The article was corrected on 24 June at 08.45.
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