Norway has reported a record number of cases and hospitalizations in recent days (Representational)
Oslo:
Norway on Monday announced new COVID restrictions, less than a week after the spread of the Omicron variant and the tightening of restrictions amid rising case numbers and hospital admissions.
The move comes after Norway’s health authority warned that the country could record 90,000 to 300,000 daily coronavirus cases and 200 hospitalizations per day in three weeks without further measures.
Norway has reported a record number of cases and hospitalizations in recent days, with 958 omicron infections detected on Monday, 472 of which were in the capital Oslo.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store warned of a “serious” situation in which the Delta variant and the new, highly permeable Omicron strain would lead to “total saturation of the health system”.
With booster shots offered by mid-January, the gap between second and third COVID-19 cases will be reduced to four-and-a-half months for healthcare workers over 45.
Bars and restaurants will not be able to serve alcohol, remote working will be mandatory where possible, mask mandates will be increased and access to public swimming pools and gyms will be restricted.
The cancellation of large sporting events was also recommended.
The measures will be in effect overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday and are supposed to last four weeks.
South Africa first reported Omicron to the World Health Organization last month. Preliminary data suggests the variant is more permeable and resists vaccines, prompting many countries to reimpose restrictions and travel restrictions.
Norway, a northern European country of 5.4 million people, has recorded 317,870 Covid-19 cases and 1,136 deaths since the start of the pandemic.
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