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Mari Kastet (27) outside Georgetown University in Washington DC in the USA , where she is studying. She to be left alone on Christmas Eve if the trip home to Norway is canceled. She is worried about what will happen if the rules for entering the United States after the New Year change. Photo : Private
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Homesickness
Her concern is shared by several, and on Facebook, several have expressed concern about the corona situation.
A girl living in Texas writes she struggles with homesickness: “I have not been home since 2018, and did not get to go on my own” graduation “because of the corona. I miss my family so much that it hurts, “she says.
Graduation refers to graduation from the university.
Another writes: “I am obviously worried and scared that both we and the family at home will have to miss another Christmas celebration together.”
A woman was so frightened after the government’s press conference on Tuesday that she immediately accelerated the flight home.
“I could not bear the uncertainty and would rather have the pre-Christmas period with the family than nothing,” she writes.
Another Norwegian living in Copenhagen, Denmark, uses humor, and says that he will have “insane pork chops on Christmas Eve”, but that the celebration in Norway has been replaced by a trip to Jutland this year.
New entry rules
At a press conference on Thursday, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Labor Party) and Minister of Health Ingvild Kjerkol (Labor Party) informed that they are reintroducing several coronary restrictions both nationally and regionally. Among other things, a test obligation will be introduced for all travelers coming from outside Norway.
– We must control this pandemic. It’s not over. We have been able to demonstrate this clearly this week, Støre said.
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NEW MEASURES: Prime Minister Jonas Garh Støre (Labor Party) and Minister of Health Ingvild Kjerkol (Labor Party) announced on Thursday that travelers to Norway have a duty to test regardless of vaccine status from midnight on Friday. Photo : Heiko Junge / NTB
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The obligation to register entry for all travelers has already been introduced, but on Thursday the government came up with further measures.
– We have said we will take action immediately if the situation becomes worrying. Now we’ve got there. The situation is worrying, and we are taking action, Kjerkol said.
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TIGHTENING IN: Minister of Health Ingvild Kjerkol (Labor Party) says the corona situation in Norway is now worrying. Photo : Simen Askjer / TV 2
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– Everyone who comes to the country is now obliged to test themselves within 24 hours of arrival. The duty will apply to absolutely everyone, both unvaccinated and vaccinated. This will also apply to people who have undergone Covid-19 .
Travelers will be able to test themselves at border crossings, public test stations or by self-test, and if it is positive, they will be obliged to take a PCR test.
Furthermore, there are mandatory bandages for all travelers over the age of twelve until there is a negative corona test where it is not possible to avoid close contact with others. Checks are also carried out at the border.
The regulation enters into force at midnight, and will be reconsidered in two weeks.
Have faith
Nevertheless, not everyone takes the grief in advance, and many still believe that the journey home goes as planned.
Some joke that they are going home for Christmas even though they have to dress up as a spruce tree to sneak across the border, and others write that they are looking forward to stick meat with the family in Norway after being crowned abroad last year.
“In the worst case, I have to go to a quarantine hotel. I have to endure that, but I’m going home “, writes a Norwegian living in London.
So far, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not issued any special advice to Norwegians who are going home for Christmas.
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