INFECTION: On Thursday, Ørsta and Volda had another contagion jump. Photo: Frode Hansen, VG
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The infection continues to rise in southern Sunnmøre. On Thursday, 49 new cases of infection were registered in Ørsta and Volda.
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The municipalities provide information about the new cases of infection in one press release, where they also encourage residents to avoid social contact, and cancel all events for the weekend.
Almost all of the new cases of infection originate from the outbreak that started at the nightclub My kitchen in Volda last weekend, confirms municipal doctor in Ørsta, Marte Vaage Øie, to VG.
She states that they do not have an exact number, because more and more positive samples are coming in. They also expect that the number of infections will increase during the day, and that this will be the more infectious delta variant.
– Right now it is demanding. We call people back from holiday and bring in extra resources, says the municipal doctor to VG.
Earlier Thursday it was reported 16 infected in the two municipalities in the last 24 hours but the number has thus been adjusted upwards.
In the last 24 hours, 15 people have also been diagnosed with coronary heart disease in Ålesund. Among them, two of the cases of infection are related to the outbreak in Ørsta and Volda.
– About 60 people are now in isolation in the municipality, while 229 people are in quarantine. The municipality thus has a major outbreak with the delta variant of the virus, writes Ålesund municipality in a press release.
Fearing the outbreak will take time
Ørsta and Volda now have a good test capacity, but are struggling to staff the infection tracking.
The municipality has asked neighboring municipalities for help with infection detection, but has only been offered help with testing.
– We just have to scrape together what we can of people and work long days, says Øie.
The municipal doctor fears that the outbreak may be unnecessarily long if the trace of infection continues to be blown up.
– We are on day four since the first we are notified and it usually takes two to four weeks to put down such an outbreak. But if the TISK capacity is blown up, it could take longer, she says.
Will avoid local regulations
– This is the most serious situation we have been in, as it looks now. The eruption came at the worst possible time, said Volda mayor Sølvi Dimmen to VG yesterday.
It is the delta variant that is now ravaging the area. The infected are mainly young adults and are said to have been to several parties in the area this weekend.
Although the capacity has been blown up, the municipality is working to fight the infection without introducing new local regulations, says the municipal superior.
– There are still most young adults, but we expect that it will spread to other age groups next week, says municipal doctor Øie.
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