The infection trend has been declining both nationally and in the capital for many weeks. On Friday, 240 people were confirmed infected in Norway in the last 24 hours. In Oslo, the number was 18.
– There are small numbers for Oslo, which has seen a decline for very many weeks. For the country as a whole, we have also had a decline for many weeks, but it has flattened out. The situation is characterized by the fact that there are a number of outbreaks around the country, which has led to an increase, says department director Line Vold.
Although the infection rates are generally low, the health authorities have been clear that they are concerned about the spread of the delta variant in Norway.
Now Vold says that it does not seem that the variant is spreading as fast in Norway as first feared.
– REOPENING: Next week, Oslo will take another step in the direction of reopening. Photo: Christoffer Andreassen / TV 2
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Not at the same pace
Delta, which is more contagious, has led to concern in several European countries as a result of increased infection. Both in among other things Portugal and the United Kingdom have slowed the reopening variant.
– We are in a situation where we know that the vaccines provide good protection against the delta variant and serious illness. At the same time, we see that there is a lot of infection among those who have not been vaccinated. Therefore, there is a race between better vaccine coverage and slowing down the spread of the delta variant, says Vold.
The health authorities went out early and said that the delta variant came to become dominant in Norway. This has still not happened.
– How quickly do we have to reintroduce restrictions if the infection increases?
– We are prepared to reintroduce measures in Norway as well, but with an increase in vaccine coverage, we are better protected and this slows down the infection. We also see that delta has spread a little less quickly than alpha. It has not taken over at as fast a pace as alpha did, says Vold.
Previous weekly report showed that in week 25 353 cases of delta had been confirmed. The prevalence has increased from one percent to six.
– OUTBREAKS: Several places also handle local outbreaks, among them Lofoten. Photo: Yngve Sem Pedersen / TV 2
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Get hospitalized
This coming Monday, the government and the health authorities invite you to their 200th press conference during the pandemic where the further reopening will be the topic.
Both Minister of Health Bent Høie (H) and Prime Minister Erna Solberg (H) have said that stage four of the reopening will probably have to be postponed. Both indicated that they were concerned about the delta variant.
Line Vold is holding the cards to the chest, but says they have given their recommendation to the government.
– We give our advice to the government. We are now in a situation where we are considering the delta variant, that the infection situation has flattened out and that we opened up quite a bit not long ago, against the fact that we have an increasing degree of vaccine coverage, says Vold.
In addition, the most important figures point in the right direction.
– The number who are admitted to hospital is still stably low in Norway and in many other European countries, says the department director.
On Friday, 28 corona-infected patients were admitted to hospitals in Norway.
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