Increased spread of infection in neighboring countries: "Will not shut down again"

Norway is now up to 20 confirmed cases per 100,000 inhabitants, which is the country's own border to redlist other countries or regions. 

- Most new cases are linked to known outbreaks and this means that we still think we have good control over the situation, says Frode Forland, Norwegian Institute of Public Health's (FHI) director of infection control.

It is in Fredrikstad and Bergen that the spread of infection is greatest, but in the majority of the municipalities it looks much better, according to Forland.

- We do not call this a new wave, but local outbreaks that we have seen during August and September.

At present, we have eight smaller outbreaks in different municipalities and there we make sure to trace, test and isolate, he says.

In Bergen, many students have been infected by the new coronavirus.

Jonas Ellingsen Næsse, is one of them, and he has been allowed to stay in a so-called corona hotel.

A place that the municipality offers infected individuals who do not have the opportunity to isolate themselves is allowed to live until recovered.

-It was nice to be taken care of in case something should happen, he says.

Will not close schools again

To meet the increased spread of infection, Norway has, among other things, introduced a ban on alcohol serving in the pub after midnight, as well as a council to wear mouth guards in public transport in Oslo.

However, Frode Forland does not believe that the country will return to the spring's national shutdown - regardless of how the situation develops.

- It will probably happen in a different way now that we have better knowledge of which measures are effective.

The measures will be more locally targeted and we will wait to close schools.

There is no indication that it has been particularly effective.

"Going towards Sweden's virus management"

An increase in the number of confirmed cases during the summer has also been noted in Denmark, especially in the Copenhagen area.

- But as long as we can control the outbreaks, test and track the infection chains, we can stop them.

Infection tracking has been extremely important to us, says Lone Simonsen, pandemic researcher at Roskilde University.

At the beginning of the pandemic, Denmark closed both schools and borders to stop the coronavirus, but Lone Simonsen does not believe that the same thing will become relevant during the autumn.

- We prefer not to go back to the shutdown.

The schools will be kept open while sports and entertainment events and nightlife are regulated.

Denmark is on its way to Sweden's handling of this virus.

It is important to find a balance in the restrictions and Sweden has probably already done that, she says.