It was on Thursday that Norway discovered new cases of the British mutation of the coronavirus in a municipality near Oslo.
The new cases led the authorities to fear a greater spread of the new virus mutation than was previously known.
According to infection control director Frode Forland, the country is currently doing everything to prevent the new virus variant from gaining a foothold in society.
Call around affected municipality
Ten municipalities located around the municipality that discovered the new mutation have introduced tough measures in level five, which is the highest level.
This means, among other things, that all cultural activities, shopping centers, universities and colleges will be closed.
In addition, the government has decided to introduce tough measures in another 15 municipalities in a second ring around the affected area.
- It is a way to hinder mobility in society, says Forland.
In Sweden, about 50 cases of the British mutation have been discovered and in Norway that figure is 70 cases.
According to Forland, 17 of these are linked to the new outbreak that has been discovered around Oslo, the other cases are linked to travelers from the UK and their relatives.
Increased mapping
When asked if Sweden should also consider closing down, Forland answers:
- If you find a wide spread of the new mutation, I think it is a good strategy, but the most important thing is that you get the testing up.
The work of mapping the new virus variant is also being stepped up in Sweden.
The regions have been commissioned to send 10 percent of the country's all corona samples for sequencing, ie an analysis that maps the virus' genome.