Norway is reopened in four steps

The government’s plan for reopening consists of four steps. The first step is to return to the action level before 25 March. A so-called corona certificate will be introduced before the summer, writes NRK.

Prime Minister Erna Solberg presented the reopening plan in parliament on Wednesday morning.

Government reopening plan consists of four steps and contains an overview of which measures can be adapted in each step.

Step 1 – Return to 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 22.00, with requirements for food service.
• Events that only gather 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, all of which sit in fixed, designated locations.
• Up to 200 people at outdoor events.

Step 2 – Physical education for older students

• Opening 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 in the municipality.
• For adults in grassroots sports, it is gradually opened for organized training both indoors and outdoors, 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 made.
• Advice on avoiding 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 arrangements for family visits from abroad, both from the EEA area and third countries. Among other things, the government will consider opening the way for partners and grandparents.
• There will also be flexibility for priority groups with business travelers from abroad.

Step 3 – Evaluate corona certificate

In step 3, it will be possible to open 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 related 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 regular opening hours, but there will still be requirements for registration and a good distance between the guests.
• The government still wants as many people as possible to work in 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 participate in almost normal sports activity.
• The government will also allow 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 rely on travel quarantine

• There will still be a number of restrictions associated with 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 quarantine requirements and tests for travelers from certain areas.

– The government will use mass testing as a tool to be able to facilitate measures faster and keep offers open. The goal is to get started with regular tests 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 exercise, says Solberg.

How about a holiday abroad?

Erna Solberg said that it is not wise to plan anything for June. If you are planning something later, you should have a 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 lands today. But the recommendation to avoid traveling abroad will probably last until the end of June. I think the quarantine rules will last quite a long time for countries where the infection is significantly higher than in Norway, she says.