Prime Minister Erna Solberg believes we are on our way back to everyday life, even though we have not yet completed strict measures.
Just updated
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– This weekend a year ago, Holmenkollen ski festival went without an audience. The first major event that was changed due to corona.
This is how Erna Solberg (H) began her speech on Sunday to Norway on Sunday night.
The Prime Minister spoke on the occasion that it is almost a year since the corona pandemic really broke out in Norway.
Little did we know that a year later this crisis would not be over. And maybe it was good. It has taken more time than we imagined, the Prime Minister continues.
– The infection is increasing, the British variants are taking over. Therefore, we are not done with strict measures yet. In front of us there is a hilltop until we have to cross.
NOT OVER: On the occasion of a year of corona pandemic, Prime Minister Erna Solberg remembers everyone who has lost their lives so far during the pandemic. She emphasizes that the critical situation is not over. Photo: Hallgeir Vagenes
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She says that there will probably be stricter national measures before we can loosen up and eventually repeal the measures. Next week, the government is expected will introduce new national measures, after a period of large increase in infection in several parts of the country.
– I have planned to inform the Storting on Tuesday morning, Solberg told VG when asked when new national measures will be announced after the speech.
– What measures can we expect?
– We have not finished assessing that. One of the biggest decisions and assessments now is the question of how much we can strengthen local measures. Many parts of the country have little infection, and it is very demanding for us to have similar measures throughout the country, Solberg answers.
Solberg emphasizes that the government is still preparing and evaluating measures, and that it can therefore not elaborate further on what we can expect.
She also does not want to answer whether it is relevant to close schools nationally.
Will bring down the R number
During the weekend, the Norwegian Directorate of Health and NIPH have made the assessment of whether the national measures are sufficient, or whether we need further measures to bring the R-number below 1.
FHI has estimated that the R-number has been 1.3 since 8 February. The R-number says something about how many people an infected person transmits further. When the R-number is 1.3, one infected person will infect an average of 1.3 others – and the total number of infected will continue to rise.
– I have asked the Norwegian Directorate of Health and NIPH to look at whether the national measures are sufficient, or whether we need further measures to get the R-number below 1, Høie told VG on Friday.
Promises brighter times
Although Solberg’s immediate future prospects look promising, the Prime Minister promises that there are brighter times ahead, where we can hug each other and live social lives.
– We want to go there now. We will be cramped at sports events, we will be together at the cinema, theater, concerts, we will get back festivals, gatherings, celebrations, russetid, close contact, everyday life and parties, Solberg said and added:
– But we still have a way to go until we are there.
She further points out that the vaccination is underway.
– Before the end of March, we will have received almost 1.2 million vaccine doses. By the end of April, the number may have doubled. And in May and June there will be even larger deliveries, says the Prime Minister, who hopes that all adults have been offered a vaccine over the summer.
Follow the vaccination in Norway and the world at VG her. See also the number of doses set in Norway in the graph below:
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