The infection has stagnated somewhat in recent days. But FHI does not know if it is because the measures have an effect on omikron.
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– No one believes that the omicron spread can be stopped. Everyone hopes that it can be delayed, says Camilla Stoltenberg, director of the National Institute of Public Health (NIPH).
During Tuesday’s press conference, Stoltenberg says that they still worried for the consequence that very many can be infected at the same time. This will mean a great deal of pressure on the health services, and on society if many people are reported sick.
– We know something more about how the vaccines work, and they seem to work well against serious illness, even though they seem to work less against the spread of infection by omicron than with delta.
She points out that the infection figures show a flattening, and perhaps a decline – but that one must be careful in interpreting the figures:
– It may seem as if the measures affect the delta, and in that case it is positive. But it may also be that the test pattern is different and affects the numbers. The unanswered question is how the measures affect the spread of omicrons.
Night to Tuesday, the number 3871 people were registered infected with omicron. That’s a quadrupling in just over a week.
Stoltenberg states that FHI will in a few days present a new risk assessment of the omicron infection.
Asks the municipalities to prepare for the wave of infection
On Monday, the Norwegian Directorate of Health sent out a letter to the municipalities asking them to prepare for a major wave of infection. There they write that they will facilitate the use of the Health Contingency Act if the situation requires it.
– We believe that the population’s compliance with national measures works, but it is a little too early to conclude whether it is sufficient, says health director Bjørn Guldvog at the press conference.
He says the infection is still at a high level, and that omicron infection is increasing every week.
– Fortunately, we are together to deal with the growing infection, says Guldvog.
The number of hospitalizations in the last week is the highest we have seen through the pandemic. The number and proportion of covid-19 patients admitted is still increasing.
Monday was 373 corona-infected patients admitted to hospitals in Norway. This is an increase of 17 patients from the day before.
Fewer than 50 percent of those who are admitted to hospital with corona now have been vaccinated, Guldvog states.
Booster vaccination is advancing
The government thinks so very strict corona measures in Christmas is completely necessary, both due to pressure in the health services, and the omikron spread that is coming to the fore.
The most important thing for better control is now the booster vaccination.
– It is very important that we line up now so that the municipalities can set all their vaccine doses. They must vaccinate at a high pace through Christmas in order to achieve two important goals we have set ourselves, says Minister of Health Ingvild Kjerkhol.
For the country to be able to open up FHI believes that one is completely dependent on 700,000 vaccine doses being set in two weeks. There will be a massive effort in the municipalities.
– The rest of us have to show up when it is our turn to be vaccinated, whether it is the first, second or third dose. Whether it is before Christmas, after Christmas, or in the middle of Christmas.
She also emphasizes that mental health is just as important as physical health, as we now enter another Christmas with strict measures.
– Limiting the infection is important, but it is also important to limit the loneliness and melancholy when the meeting places become fewer and we have to keep our distance. It is in times like now that we need each other the most. We have to make time for each other, for a phone call, for a coffee, says Kjerkhol.
The goal is for everyone over 65 to receive a booster offer before Christmas, and everyone over 18 by the end of February. 86 percent of those over 65 have received a booster so far, har FHI previously stated.
Are you wondering when you can get a quote? This is the booster plan.
The government has previously announced that they are introducing the following schemes that will be able to assist the municipalities in the vaccination:
- Students in health sciences mobilized for vaccination in the municipalities at Christmas – and can get a vaccination license. But they are not encouraged to sign up if they are already working in the health and care service at Christmas.
- the defense has prepared 10 mobile devices that can help with the vaccination, and which were ready from 14 December.
- Pharmacies can help the municipalities with the vaccination, and the government has prepared a standard contract for this.
– Thank you to everyone who shows up and stands in vaccine queues, says Minister of Health and Care Services Ingvild Kjerkhol.
So far, 17 municipalities have requested assistance from the Armed Forces in the vaccination, according to Kjerkol.
– Today we send an SMS to 9000 health students who are encouraged to contribute to the vaccination work during their Christmas holidays. I would like to thank the municipalities, the Armed Forces, the pharmacies and the students who are showing up now.
Test deficiency
Health Director Bjørn Guldvog says on Tuesday that the Norwegian Directorate of Health has so far obtained 30 million tests, which are under planned delivery.
In a period from now until mid-January, the municipalities have reported orders that exceed what we have in stock. This leads to a scarce storage capacity in some municipalities, even though we send out everything that comes to the country. The municipalities must therefore be prepared to prioritize the distribution of self-tests, he says.
The priority groups are first health professionals, then those who are to be tested for symptoms, and then students who are to be tested before school starts.
– We believe we will have the capacity to implement this in the vast majority of municipalities, says Guldvog.
– The good news is that we expect large deliveries to test from mid-January, and we will return with recommendations when these are in place, he says.
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