The government’s measures come in overtime

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The government has hesitated for several weeks, hoping for cover and constantly postponed national measures. It has felt felt. Now there was no way out: Everyone in this country gets a more restrictive life. It happens in overtime. The alarm has been flashing for several weeks.

Decisions that restrict the freedom of all citizens and suspend human rights are not easy. But it should not be easier to postpone decisions that can lead to less infection and fewer cases of serious illness. The government and the health authorities have lived with this dilemma for a year, but have not found any formula that solves it.

Maybe it does not exist some formula, but since mid-February, a hesitant caution has marked the action in important areas. First, the danger of mutant viruses was underestimated. Then came the measures in the municipalities, and then in the most vulnerable counties and regions.

Can make Oslo a ghost town

Now it turns out that the effect was too weak and that the whole country must be covered by the same type of restrictions. That is why Minister of Health Bent Høie presented a new national crisis plan on Tuesday night. In practice, this means that the rest of Norway must mainly comply with the same strict living rules that already apply in Oslo, Viken, Vestfold and Telemark and some other municipalities and regions.

It involves including a ban on drinking throughout Norway, advice on a maximum of two people visiting and a new two-meter rule at the national level. You can read more about new advice and rules here.

The change to a strengthened national level of measures is justified by high infection rates, an unstable situation with regard to the spread of the viruses and pressure on hospitals and the rest of the health care system. In several places, there is a danger that the test capacity will collapse.

Vaccine crisis causes loss of confidence

This is real enough, but it has already been clear for several weeks that the situation is serious. The reproduction rate for infection (R-number) has been above 1.0 since early February. The figure was 1.3 when the authorities last refused new national measures. Then one would see how the new regional measures turned out.

The bottom line is that the situation has worsened, although in some parts of the country there are signs that the infection is stabilizing. Since mid-February, both infection rates and the number of hospital admissions have had a steep upward curve. In a pandemic, the government’s task is to formulate a comprehensive policy that includes more than just infection and health. Norway cannot stop completely, and excessive economic damage must be avoided. People’s personal freedom must not be violated more than absolutely necessary. Many trade-offs need to be made. Most are not communicated.

Such considerations must have played a role a significant role for the government’s lame strategy in corona policy. In any case, it is difficult to spot any consistent health policy line when it comes to the spread of infection. The result of the postponements is that we are now entering a period that is extremely restrictive, and which will overshadow the spring sun.

Minister of Health Bent Høie is concerned about how the national measures will be received, especially in places where there is little or no infection. He has himself to thank for that. For months, Høie, health director Bjørn Guldvog and FHI leader Camilla Stoltenberg have been talking about how important it is to adapt the measures to the local infection situation.

New and aggressive virus variants has killed that show. Although the level of infection can vary greatly, nowhere in the country is it safe. Trondheim currently has an incredibly good situation where no new infections have been registered for several days.

Shows the Norwegian health care system at its best

It is almost sensational in such a big city. Some politicians have expressed that this must mean that the capital of Trøndelag practices its own regime when it comes to infection control. It’s a bad idea. Trondheim is not an independent kingdom surrounded by impenetrable walls. If the city is to keep the stronghold in terms of infection – both for itself and the rest of Norway – it must submit to the national measures.

This is the reality for several affected industries and for parts of the country that today live fairly sheltered. The time to walk one’s own path is over. Nevertheless, the Minister of Health’s latest action is not ten new commandments carved in stone and taken down from Mount Sinai.

Of course, we must protest against what is unreasonable or unfair. The authorities rarely hit the mark when it comes to regulating Norwegian reality. But there is no time to whine. The infection leads to disease and death. It affects increasingly younger age groups and new studies suggest a risk of serious long-term effects.

It may not be a charity event anymore. But rarely has practical solidarity and self-interest been more closely linked.

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