150 new corona infections have been registered in Oslo in the last 24 hours. It is eleven below the average for the previous seven days.
In the last two weeks, an average of 202 infections have been registered per day.
– Infection rates in Oslo are declining. It is a fantastic achievement, and it is the inhabitants who have helped to bring the number of infections down, says Robert Steen (Labor).
Now the health council finally dares to be cautiously optimistic about the situation and look towards reopening.
The last shutdown
– What we are anxious about in Oslo is that if we open too much too fast, then we have to shut down again much more forcefully than what we came from. We have seen examples of this in a number of other countries, says the health council.
– THE RIGHT WAY: The Health Agency in Oslo, Robert Steen (Labor Party), is happy that the infection has decreased in recent weeks. Photo: Tom Rune Orset / TV 2
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Steen refers, among other things, to Germany, which is in its fourth wave of infection and a new shutdown.
Therefore, the city council believes that it is better “to be strict than to close”.
– If we manage to keep the behavior at the level we are now, we can get the infection down even more, and then it will be safer to open. We want this opening to last forever, says Steen.
He believes that a cautious reopening is in the best interests of the citizens, but also a number of industries.
– Bringing people back from leave, buying a warehouse and then suddenly being told to close again, is not a good situation. The inhabitants will also find it discouraging with an opening and then a new stoning only after 14 days, Steen says.
RULES: People have flocked to the parks in the nice weather this weekend. Steen believes that the infection figures show that the people of Oslo are good at complying with the rules. Photo: Per Haugen / TV 2
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More visiting
Earlier this week, the city council announced that the strict corona measures will be continued until April 29, with the exception of some relief for children and young people.
At the same time, it was mentioned that the ban on having more than two people, in addition to your household, visiting at the same time, should be considered.
Is it still in the cards that it is decided that we can have more this week?
– Yes, I think so. As long as the infection rates continue to decline and the behavior supports it, this is the first measure we want to resolve. Not having more than two visitors at the same time is a very intrusive rule, says Steen.
– When will you make the decision?
– We will come back to it next week and it starts tomorrow, he says.
Get support
The Norwegian Directorate of Health points out that it is Oslo itself that decides the pace of the reopening.
OSLO: Espen Rostrup Nakstad is pleased that Oslo has taken a careful line. Photo: Erik Edland / TV 2
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– The infection numbers must go down and you must have control of the transmission routes before you can open up a lot in a safe way, says assistant health director Espen Rostrup Nakstad.
He points out that the national reopening plan has assumed that it will take three weeks before new relief is made. Nakstad believes Oslo has taken the same line.
That way you can see if it has gone well before moving on. Oslo has also chosen a cautious line before making a new assessment, he says.
– Take care
During the interview, Robert Steen praises the citizens of Oslo a number of times.
– The population is very responsible and has a good infection behavior. That is the image I have on the retina, he says.
But no interview without a reminder of how important it is that everyone takes the infection control rules seriously.
– It is not just old people who get sick and end up in hospital. This also applies to young people who are well trained. Korona is not something anyone wants, and we must remind each other when we are tired and want to be social, Steen says.
– We must take care of the infection situation at the same time as we enjoy the spring.
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