Norway’s health ministry announced the next phase of lifting corona restrictions. Prime minister Erna Solberg said the country can see the beginning of the end of the pandemic.
Next week, step two of Norway’s four-step plan to reopen and lift COVID-19 restrictions will take place. As PM Solberg announced on Friday, from May 27, people can have up to ten visitors in their homes, alcohol can be served until midnight. Moreover, there will be more in-person teaching at schools and universities.
“We see that the infection rates are stable and that hospital admissions are declining. Vaccination is going according to plan. It is, therefore, justifiable to proceed with the reopening of Norway,” Solberg said at a government press conference.
In other words, the Nordic country could see the beginning of the end of the pandemic.
Norway’s Directorate of Health approved the next phase of lifting restrictions
Commenting on the next step, PM said that despite restrictions being eased nationally, there may be a need for stricter measures at a local level in some areas. According to the reopening plan based on advice from the Norwegian Directorate of Health and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH), the country will reopen gradually.
“Even if there is relief nationally, there may be a need for stricter measures to reduce outbreaks locally,” Solberg said on Friday.
In its efforts to keep the country as safe as possible, the government is aiming to introduce the full certificate in the first half of June. “The government believes that the corona certificate will help facilitate a gradual and controlled reopening of society and contribute to faster opening nationally,” Health Minister Bent Hoie said in a statement.
