– Must be prepared for austerity measures for Easter

In the last 24 hours, 1,096 new cases of infection have been registered in Norway. This is the next highest number so far in the pandemic.

In the capital Oslo, 327 new infections have been registered. There are 27 fewer cases than the average for the previous seven days.

But the development of infection in the country is causing concern among the health authorities. And with the Easter holidays just around the corner, several health leaders fear that it will lead to a sharp jump in infection rates.

The government was initially to hold a press conference on the corona situation at 13.00 on Tuesday afternoon. But in a press release on Tuesday morning, the Ministry of Health and Care Services announces that it will be postponed until 18.00 on Tuesday evening.

– Increased risk

Department director at FHI Line Vold says people must be prepared for further tightening.

– Assessments of this are being made by the government now, and it has been updated with recent developments and with a view to increased risk of the spread of infection during the Easter holidays, says Vold.

The department director is particularly concerned that the Easter holidays will lead to an increase in the number of hospital admissions.

– We have seen that there has been an increase in hospital admissions in recent weeks, and also in the intensive care units. We are concerned about the development, and we are particularly concerned at the beginning of Easter where we know that there is increased travel activity and increased social interaction, says Vold.

Thorough assessments

– How likely is it that we can travel to the cabin, and have a visit?

– Thorough assessments of this are being made now, and we see that other countries are also tightening up with Easter in mind, to ensure that they do not get an increase in infection rates, she says.

On Monday night, Assistant Health Director Espen Rostrup Nakstad told TV 2 that the Norwegian Directorate of Health and NIPH have take a closer look at which measures which should apply during and after Easter.

– We look at how many people can be together, when you should wear a face mask and when you should keep your distance. We consider all these things that we are actually familiar with from before, and where it may be relevant with tightening, said Rostrup Nakstad.

Bigger challenges

Despite very strict measures in several parts of the country, the infection rates do not seem to be flattening out. Violence says it is especially the British mutant who is causing trouble.

– This virus variant is more contagious, so we have greater challenges in keeping the epidemic under control, says the FHI top.

However, she hopes that spring and warmer weather will have an effect on the development of infection, and lead to the numbers flattening out.

– We have experience from last year that when it got summer and warmer in the weather, we got a certain effect from it. So if we manage to get through the next period, and get a decline in the numbers, there is hope that higher temperatures and vaccination can enable us to step down on measures, and have a reopening plan for the summer season, says Vold.

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