In Skien, 298 people have been confirmed infected during the month of May. In Porsgrunn, the number is 136. In addition, the infection is rising rapidly in the neighboring municipality of Bamble.
On 10 May, very strict regional measures were introduced, while local regulations go even further. The municipal chiefs say that the situation is serious and that the infection tracing work is being overloaded.
Common to the municipalities is that young people and young adults run the infection. The municipalities are now considering cancel the rest of the Russian celebration.
Now there are also rumors that young people are offered infection on Snapchat – for a price tag of 100 and 200 kroner. The case was first mentioned by TA.
Exposes to infection
The government has announced that a corona certificate will be central to the reopening of Norway. According to the plan, people who have been infected, and thus have antibodies, or those who have been vaccinated, will receive more and more relief.
In the report “Ethical issues when establishing a corona certificate”, the authors write that this can be perceived as unfair, especially for young people. They warn that young people who have not been vaccinated may be exposed to infection in order to obtain the corona certificate as it provides increased freedom of movement.
The municipal chief in Porsgrunn says that he is aware that there are rumors that the infection is sold for a small sum on Snapchat.
– TEMPTED: Municipal chief physician Jan-Arne Hunnestad is concerned that young people may be tempted to become infected in order to receive relief. Photo: Hege Schjøth Øverås
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– I have heard that infection is offered for as little as 100 kroner. We have asked young people who have tested positive about this, but they have not wanted to confirm it, says Jan-Arne Hunnestad to TV 2.
– Do you think it is likely that the rumors are true?
– Yes, especially with regard to the corona certificate and the “freedom” you get if you have been infected. The younger you are, the less risk there is of serious illness, so it is clear there is a market for it, says Hunnestad.
He is afraid young people do not understand the seriousness.
– They do not think about the consequences that we see every day when parents get sick, and when whole classes and workplaces are put in the karate. It has enormous health and social consequences, says the municipal chief.
Do you have any tips in this case? Contact TV 2’s journalist at [email protected].
Taken seriously
SLT coordinator in Skien municipality, Natasha Ferguson Finseth, was also informed about the Snapchat rumors last week. She was told that the price for being exposed to infection was set at 200 kroner.
She works as an SLT coordinator in Skien. SLT is responsible for coordinating local intoxicants and crime prevention measures.
So far it is only about rumors and she emphasized that they have not been confirmed that this is actually happening.
– We have not received concrete evidence or tips about Facebook groups, but it is rumored among young people, Ferguson Finseth says.
She says that the municipality takes the rumors seriously.
– We work closely with schools and environmental therapists in the extension of such rumors. We also have a good collaboration with preventive police in the municipality, says the coordinator.
– CONCERNED: Natasha Ferguson Finseth has not seen the snaps herself, but is worried about the rumors. Photo: Private
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– Terribly sad
If the rumors are true, she’s clear on what she thinks.
– It’s terribly sad. Putting both yourself and others in a potential infection situation is very boring, because the consequences can be so great, she says.
The coordinator encourages all young people who may come across such offers to report to an environmental therapist, school or parents.
– Take it further so that we can catch it and try to get rid of it. We must take care of each other in this time. There is a lot of infection in Grenland, so we want both young people and adults to get out of this in a good way, says Ferguson Finseth.
Used the Russian trousers three times
Russian President Alina Wetherill (18) at Porsgrunn upper secondary school says that she is not aware of the rumors that “infection” is being sold.
– I only read about it in local newspapers, but I have not heard anything about it personally, she says.
However, she has noticed that the infection rates are sky-high.
– I have only worn the trousers three times. Right now I am in quarantine for the second time during the Russian era, and virtually everyone I know is either infected or in quarantine, she says.
– QUARANTINE: Alina (right) says that cases of infection led to class after class being quarantined last week. Photo: Private
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The 18-year-old says that the situation is very boring for everyone and that she is looking forward to it being over.
– We are almost done at school, so we can hope that the summer will be better. I’m starting to get bored, says Wetherill.
Infection among young adults
The municipalities in Grenland are working hard to deal with the ongoing outbreak.
– There is an increasing spread of infection and a significant strain on TISK capacity. There is so much infection tracking and quarantine that we who work with this are tired, says Hunnestad.
The municipal chief says that he estimates that the infection in Porsgrunn is 250 times higher this year than at the same time last year. The infection is greatest among young adults.
– It is mainly upper secondary students and young adults who become infected, and who pass on to the families often before they get symptoms, he says.
The municipality follows strict national measures, in addition to local regulations that are intended to reduce contact between people, and especially between young adults.
– We have a hope that they will work within a week or two, says Hunnestad.
In Skien, the infection rates are even higher.
– RESTRICTIONS: There has not been much to celebrate for this year’s russ during the pandemic. Photo: Lise Åserud / NTB Scanpix
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– Worth noting
– The infection situation in Skien municipality is serious. We assess daily whether the measures we have implemented are sufficient, and whether adjustments are needed to gain better control over the spread of infection, says Anne Gunhild Waagsbø-Kjellsen to TV 2.
The municipal chief also knows about the rumors about the sale of infection on social media and that worries her.
– It is worrying that government relief in infection control measures for those who have been infected may seem to motivate young people to just make sure to get the infection reviewed, so that they can subsequently be exempted from quarantine implementation, says Anne Gunhild Waagsbø-Kjellsen to TV 2.
She points out that it is particularly worrying because several of the parents of the groups that may carry out “Snapchat infection” have not yet been vaccinated.
– They may have underlying health conditions which means that they have an increased risk of serious illness than younger people without such underlying health conditions, says the municipal chief.
Fear of collapse
On Tuesday, 48 positive cases were reported in Skien. The proportion of infected people in young age groups has also increased in recent weeks.
In week 17, 24 percent of all infected people were between 10 and 20 years old, while 54 percent were between 20 and 49 years old. In week 18, the proportion was 35 and 42 per cent, respectively.
An expert committee appointed by the government has been clear in its recommendation: They believe at the age group 18 to 25 years should be prioritized in the vaccine queue.
– Young people have contact with many people. As the vaccine prevents the spread of infection, we also prevent young people from infecting parents and grandparents. In addition, it allows young people, who have long paid a high price, to have more social contact, said health law expert Anne Kjersti Befring at UiO.
In a risk assessment TA has gained access to, shows that it is urgent to put down the infection. The municipal superintendent writes that the test capacity and infection tracing work are under a critical load in Skien.
– It is emphasized that the population’s compliance with current infection control rules and recommendations is absolutely crucial for the development of the situation, says Waagsbø-Kjellsen.
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