This week, the government issued several new infection conrol measures, which will apply at least until April 12th. This is because the number of infected have been going up for a long period of time, in many places in Norway.
– These measures are put in place to prevent what is expected to happen in relation to increased travel during easter. The goal is to avoid another wave of infection after the holiday, says Martin Larsen Drageset, infection control doctor in Hadsel municipality.
Since the local outbreak in Desember 2020, the number of infected in Hadsel has been relatively low, but with the new and more contagious variations of the coronavirus (for example the British mutation), it is very important that people in Hadsel also follow the rules and recommendations.
The emergency staff in Hadsel municipality met Wednesday to discuss and compose further local measures, in addition to the rules and regulations that apply for the whole country.
Please read and follow the measures listed:
Local measures for Hadsel municipality from 25th of March to 12th of April:
– Now the recommended distance is two meters in public areas. Use face masks wherever it is not possible to keep two meters distance to the next person.
– The front desk in Hadsel town hall (Hadsel rådhus) will be closed, but the phones are open, and e-mail will be handled as normal.
– NAV closes for physical meetings, but the phones are open, and e-mail will be handled as normal.
– All employees in Hadsel municipality that are able to do their work completely from home, shall work from home.
– The library in Bykuben, Stokmarknes will be closed physically, but they do take orders.
– The youth club, UK Canari, will be closed.
Measures that apply all over Norway from 25th of March to 12th of April
New recommendations
– The one-meter rule is now replaced by the two-meter rule. In situations where you previously had to maintain a one-meter distance, you must now maintain at least a two-meter distance.
– We recommend no more than two guests in your home.
– If you have arrived from an area with a high infection rate, you should not go on overnight visits, and not invite overnight guests either. People who live alone, as well as children and young people under the age of 20 may arrange overnight visits with one or two specific friends.
– You should limit social contact to the greatest extent possible.
– We recommend to wear face masks in places where it is not possible to keep a two-meter distance.
– We recommend to visit shopping centres and department stores only in your home municipality.
– We recommend to postpone all non-essential travel. Exceptions apply in the following situations:
- Travel to work when it is not possible to work from home.
- Students who do not have family members living close to their place of study, and who travel home to visit their family.
- Members of the same household travelling to a cabin together.
– It has earlier been determined that, effective April 6, all teaching activities at universities, university colleges and tertiary vocational colleges will be carried out digitally. This will now apply from March 25.
New national regulations based on the Covid-19 Regulations
– Serving alcohol is prohibited across the entire country.
– Organised indoor sporting and recreational activities for adults are prohibited, with the exception of professional elite athletes.
– Fitness centres may only be open for the residents of the municipality where they are located. Exceptions apply to residents from other municipalities in need of physical rehabilitation, individual exercise regimens and treatment.
– Swimming pools shall be closed, but may remain open for children’s swimming practice and for persons in need of rehabilitation in a swimming pool.
– Amusement parks, bingo halls and similar entertainment facilities will be closed.
– Employers shall ensure that their employees work from home insofar it is practically feasible.
– Persons returning to Norway after non-essential foreign travel must stay at quarantine hotels for the entire duration of the quarantine. This will be enforced from 00:01 Monday, March 29.
– We recommend cancelling all planned events. In case of events that cannot be postponed, the following rules apply:
– Indoors events may be attended by up to 20 persons seated in fixed designated seats.
– Indoors sporting events may be attended by up to 50 participants under the age of 20 belonging to sports clubs in the same municipality.
– Outdoor events may only be attended by up to 50 persons.
– Funerals and burial services may be attended by up to 50 persons seated in fixed, designated seats.
Social contact
– Maintain a two-meter distance from others, with the exception of the people you live with (or, in case of people who live alone, their close contacts). (new)
– Wear a face mask when it is not possible to maintain a distance. (new)
– We recommend a maximum of two guests in your own home. It is advisable to maintain social contact with the same people in a given period of time. (new)
– All events that are not strictly necessary should be postponed. (new)
– You should limit social contact to the greatest extent possible. (new)
Shopping
– We recommend to only visit shopping centres and department stores in your home municipality.
Travels
– The Government advises against all travel abroad.
– Avoid non-essential domestic travel within Norway.
– You may travel to a cabin or a hotel in Norway, but avoid public transportation if at all possible.
– If you travel to a municipality with fewer restrictions in place, the general rule is to follow the recommendations that apply in your home municipality.
Work
– Everyone who can work from home must do so.
– Employers shall ensure that their employees work from home wherever this is practically feasible. (new)
Sporting and recreational activities
– Children and young people under the age of 20 may attend training sessions and recreational activities as usual. If required by nature of the activity, they are exempt from the recommendation to maintain a one-meter distance.
– Children and young people under the age of 20 may take part in sporting events gathering participants from the same municipality. Such indoor events may be attended by up to 50 persons.
– The limit for outdoor activities is 50 persons, including the athletes, coaches, referees and, if applicable, the spectators. If children and young people take part in joint training sessions with a sports club from another municipality, they will be allowed to compete with members of this club provided this is possible given the current infection rates.
– Children and young people under 20 years of age who practice sports not involving close contact such as skiing, may participate in outdoors sporting events gathering participants from the same sports division or region, where “region” is understood as a geographical term.
– Adults may take part in organised training sessions outdoors if it is possible to maintain sufficient distance from others.
Higher education
Facilities at universities, university colleges and tertiary vocational colleges are closed to students, and all teaching activities are carried out digitally. Libraries and reading rooms may be open. (new)
Institutions may make exceptions from the requirement to close certain facilities if access is essential for students who depend on conducting experiments or practical skills training that cannot be carried out digitally, and that are necessary for maintaining academic progress within the given study program (new)