“The threat from Omicron is enormous”. NIPH director Camilla Stoltenberg says the Omicron variant of the coronavirus can cause a lot of infection and disease, “perhaps more than before in the pandemic”.
“It seems to be easier to infect vaccinated in addition to unvaccinated,” says Stoltenberg.
Stoltenberg says that it now seems that people will not get sicker from the new variant, but that more people will get sick and that this means that more people will become seriously ill as well.
The situation is serious. The government fears that a further increase in infection will lead to the health service not being able to provide all help.
– The infection must be limited so that not many people need health care at the same time, said Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and outlined new measures and recommendations:
– We encourage everyone to reduce the number of close contacts.
– The one meter rule is back, keep your distance.
– Recommends a maximum of 10 people at home, and 20 on Christmas Eve or another party at Christmas (if you can keep a meter distance between the guests)
– Training should take place outdoors.
– Take the vaccine.
Mandatory for facemasks if you can not keep a distance of one meter.
– Mandatory facemasks and restrictions on guests do not apply to children, who can invite more than 10 people from those they are still in a cohort with in kindergarten and school.
Very intrusive coronary restrictions are now being introduced that affect many companies. It is good that the government is acting quickly and introducing a national compensation scheme for November and December. But companies need further measures, says NHO director Ole Erik Almlid.
NHO wants to put in place a scheme for wage support, to avoid mass layoffs before Christmas.
NHO otherwise understands that the development of infection and the situation around the omicron variant necessitate new restrictions.
But Almlid is very worried about what it means for the restaurant and nightlife bars that you now get cancelled Christmas dinners and large falls in turnover.
