The government’s plan for reopening consists of four steps. The first step is going back to the level of action before 25 March. A so-called corona certificate will be introduced before the summer, writes NRK.
The Prime Minister Erna Solberg presented the reopening plan in the parliament on Wednesday morning.
The Government’s reopening plan consists of four steps and contains an overview of which measures can be facilitated in each step.
Step 1 – Going back standarts before Easter
Next week, the government will consider whether all or part of the national tightening that came before Easter can be reversed.
– This is step 1 in the reopening, and can be seen as a preparatory phase, says Solberg.
In step 1, the government will, among other things, consider opening up to:
- Up to 5 guests in private homes.
- Serving until 10 pm, with requirements for food service.
- Events that only bring together people from one municipality can be carried out.
- The distance recommendation is changed back to 1 meter.
- Up to 100 people at indoor events, such as cultural and sporting events, conferences and services, where everyone sits in fixed designated places.
- Up to 200 people at outdoor events.
Step 2 – Physical education for older students
- Opening up for increased physical education at universities, colleges and vocational colleges.
- Opening for visits to private homes. From 5 to 10 guests.
- Opening for private events in rented premises for up to 20 people.
- The serving time is extended to 24.00, and the requirement for food service is removed.
- Events can be held with up to 200 people indoors where everyone sits in fixed designated places.
- Children and young people will be able to participate in events and organized training within the municipality.
- For adults in grassroots sports, it is gradually opened for organized training both outside and inside, in groups of up to 20 people. By mid-April, the health authorities will propose a model for reopening grassroots sports.
- Domestic travel can be done.
- The advice to avoid travel abroad is maintained, unless the trip is strictly necessary. There will still be strict requirements for quarantine and testing for those who enter the country.
- There will be facilitation for family visits from abroad, both from the EEA area and third countries. Among other things, the government will consider opening for entry for partners and grandparents.
- There will also be felexibility for priority groups with business travelers from abroad.
Step 3 – Evaluate corona certificate
In step 3, it will be possible to open up for more people to gather.
- It is possible to have 20 guests at home. 50 people at private events in rented premises.
- For public events, separate assessments will be made that are linked to the possible use of rapid tests and a corona certificate. (This has also been referred to as a vaccine passport or vaccine certificate).
- There will be normal opening times, but there will still be requirements for registration and a good distance between guests.
- The government still wants as many people as possible to work at home offices.
- In grassroots sports for adults, it will be considered to gradually open up for leagues and competitions.
- Children and young people will be able to participate in events and organized training across municipal boundaries.
- Top athletes can engage in almost normal sports activity.
- The government will also allow for more trips abroad, but with continued requirements for quarantine and testing. However, these requirements may change from day to day.
- Norway will also open up for more normal labor immigration.
The government estimates that Norway has probably taken the first three steps in the plan by the end of June.
Step 4 – Closer to normal, must count on the travel quarantine
- There will still be number restrictions related to large public events and leisure activities.
- Entry restrictions may still be relevant, especially for travelers from some countries with high levels of infection.
- There may be requirements for quarantine and tests for travelers from certain areas.
– The government will use mass testing as a tool to be able to facilitate measures more quickly and keep offers open. The goal is to get started with regular testing at schools after Easter in the municipalities with the highest infection pressure among children and young people of school age. This can contribute to more physical education, says Solberg.
What about a holiday abroad?
Erna Solberg said that it is not wise to plan anything for June. If you are planning for something later, you should have cancellation insurance, Solberg answers and adds:
– There will certainly be countries you can travel to without quarantine. This already applies today to Iceland, Greenland and parts of Finland. These are green countries today. But the recommendation to avoid traveling abroad will probably last until the end of June. I think quarantine rules will last quite a long time for countries where the infection is significantly higher than in Norway, she says.
