Norway PM Urges ‘Stay At Home’ To Fight Coronavirus Spread | Forbes - David Nikel:
November 5, 2020 - "Authorities in Norway have introduced the country’s strongest coronavirus infection control measures since the initial lockdown in mid-March, as positive Covid-19 test results and hospital admissions continue to rise. Stopping short of a second lockdown, the new measures nevertheless recommend everyone to stay at home if they can, avoid unnecessary domestic travel and impose stricter limits on public gatherings.... The latest news comes just a week after the announcement of new restrictions on gatherings and events.
"'We do not have time to wait and see if the measures we introduced last week are sufficient. We must act now to avoid a new shutdown,' said Norway’s prime minister Erna Solberg in a speech to the Norwegian parliament. She asked Norway’s 5.3 million residents to stay at home whenever possible and 'have the least possible social contact with others'."
Norway handled Covid better than Sweden – but it had nothing to do with lockdowns or masks | The Telegraph - Mallika Aryal:
October 30, 2020 - "Our neighbour Sweden is often criticised for not locking down, with many pointing to Norway’s lower Covid death rate. What most fail to mention is that we didn’t have a full lockdown either.
"Yes, schools, kindergartens, higher education institutions, hairdressers and gyms were shut, we were encouraged to work from home, non-essential travel was discouraged, and restrictions were imposed on international arrivals. But shops, restaurants and bars stayed open, we did not impose any kind of curfew, and there have been no rules about when or how many times one can go out.
"As with Sweden, face masks are not mandatory – and very few people wear them.
"Instead, authorities put a strong emphasis on [voluntary] social distancing, the importance of taking care of the vulnerable, and the need to avoid burdening the health system. Norwegians have criticised the confusing Covid-19 messaging from the Swedish health authorities, and many view Sweden’s efforts in this regard as a failure....
"Many in the country came to accept early on that travelling abroad was not an option in 2020. So, we have stayed close to our families and met friends outdoors. As people began to realize there would be nowhere to go, boat sales went up, and by mid-summer the fjords were packed with people from various parts of the country, hopping from island to island.... Others rafted and kayaked. 'Norwegians could not go anywhere, so they decided to explore their country and spend money here,' said one rafting business owner....
"Norway has kept the rate of Covid-19 infections low – it has registered 19,000 coronavirus cases since February, and 281 people have died so far. Over the months, the government has refined its testing and tracking capabilities. The fortnight following the first positive case was uncertain, but when the government tells the people that they need to practice caution, Norwegians listen. There is a deep sense of trust here towards the political system, the government, the leaders, and, most importantly, the information they share with the public. A survey from September shows that seven out of 10 Norwegians trust the government’s coronavirus messaging....
Earlier this week Norway tightened travel restrictions again. The new rules advise against international trips until mid-January.... In the meantime, as we wait for the vaccine, we will dust off our skis and hope for snow."
Read more: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/norway/articles/postcard-from-norway/
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