OSLO (NORWAY) – Norway, which has some of the strictest travel restrictions in Europe, must maintain tight control to avoid bringing in COVID-19 cases, Prime Minister Erna Solberg said on Friday.
As the continent lifts travel restrictions ahead of the summer holidays, fears of an early second wave of infections in Europe are growing.
“There is still a danger of new infections … Cases of infection coming from abroad is the biggest danger today,” Solberg told parliament. “So it is important to keep control.”
While other European countries have slowly lifted some curbs, or all, travel restrictions, Norway has taken a tougher stance. The nation is not a member of the European Union but belongs to the passport-free Schengen travel zone.
Most non-residents, including tourists, are still not allowed into the country, though those who work in sectors deemed crucial, such as agriculture or oil, and those who can prove a family link with Norway can come provided they undergo a 10-day quarantine.
However, since Monday citizens and foreign residents of Denmark, Iceland, Finland and the Swedish island of Gotland have been allowed to enter the country and without undergoing quarantine.
People from mainland Sweden are not allowed into the country given the higher number of infections there.
As of June 18, Norway had identified a total of 8,692 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 244 faalities. No more than 1% of its 5.4 million population has been infected since the outbreak began.
Norway was early in Europe in imposing a lockdown, in mid-March and was able to begin lifting restrictions after Easter.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field