Norway has followed in the footsteps of Koronafot to Denmark – has collaborated – NRK Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
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We have lived a long time with viruses, infection control rules and measures. But now Norway is sleeping more. The measure will probably also be gone in Norway by 17 February.
But despite record high infection rates, we are not alone. On 9 February, Sweden will lift its coronary restrictions. But first out among neighboring countries was Denmark, which has already opened up.
And this is not the first time Norway has come up with its measures or openings, shortly after Denmark. Random?
Well … let’s look back on this corona time.
Shutdown and reopening
March 12, 2020. A date many think. The coronavirus had come to Norway, and the country shut down. The strictest measures in Norway in peacetime.
But not just her. The day before, March 11, Denmark closed all schools and kindergartens.
Yeah okay. But this was healthy in the beginning you might think. No wonder many followed in the same footsteps then.
But let’s rewind to another anniversary day. Reopening September 25, 2021. A happy day. But happy days were already in Denmark. The anniversary of the reopening there was namely 10 September.
I do not know the reason why Denmark has a low lead over Norway in the development of infection, but it may have been about that thing.
One is that people in Denmark live closer to each other. In addition, they are closer to the rest of Europe and Norway do.
They have also had less consistent entry rules.
In sum, this may have had a major impact on when the new virus variants become dominant in the two countries.
Statistics show that new varieties become dominant between 14 days and one month earlier in Denmark than in Norway.
– Never put emphasis on other countries’ schedules
And this has our great advantage for Norway in pandemic management.
For FHI and the Statens Serum Institut (SSI), which is the Danish answer to FHI, has had a very close collaboration through the pandemic.
They have exchanged experience all the way, and Norway has especially benefited greatly from the experience Denmark has, which shuts down and opens up before Norway.
According to assistant health director Espen Nakstad, they have not seen much of Denmark or other countries when deciding on measures.
– In the Norwegian Directorate of Health, I have never emphasized other countries’ schedules, nor have I known about them. But we have continuous analyzes of what other countries do, and what effect they get from the measures, he says.
Shared experiences
Former Minister of Health, now State Administrator in Rogaland, Bent Høie, has a slightly different opinion.
He has worked closely with his Scandinavian Minister for Health colleagues.
– For example, had enough most exchange of experience with the Danish Minister of Health, since Sweden went a little different ways, says Høie to NRK.
They often shared experience with each other, and were often in contact via SMS, Team meetings or by phone.
The conversations ranged from the personal to helping others who were in the same situation.
– Denmark had exactly the same discussions as us, only at a slightly earlier time. I read daily Danish news during the pandemic, and used it to challenge FHI and the Norwegian Directorate of Health, says Høie.
Høie is fully aware that this made Norwegian pandemic handling easier.
– I could look at the impact in Denmark, and when FHI and the Norwegian Directorate of Health had explanations, Camilla Stoltenberg always went through some documents about what the situation was like in Denmark.
On the other hand, it is not the case that Norway has copied Denmark in the pandemic handling, but they have learned from each other.
– But Norway probably had a bigger advantage than Denmark, since they were before us, he says.
Tough wave for Denmark
Nevertheless, there are some significant differences between countries. One of them is that Denmark reacted later than Norway when the virus was known.
They got a tough wave with many dead and hard shutdowns. Since November last year, the Danes have had a stronger spread of infection and a higher death rate than Norway.
The country’s different policies have also spelled a role. In Denmark, the initiative has been created through negotiations in the National Assembly, while in Norway it has been a bit of it.
Now it only says that to see how it goes with opening for both Norway and Denmark. For now, Danes are allowed to dance in the city. It does not get me.
But after that this article is it maybe hopeful?