OSLO (NORWAY) – Norway announced on Friday that it would lift curbs on travelling to and from more than 20 European countries from July 15. They include France, Germany and Britain as well as three of the 21 provinces of neighbouring Sweden.
Though not a European Union member, Norway belongs to the passport-free Schengen Area travel zone. It has some of the strictest travel restrictions in Europe because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Since June 15 Norway has allowed Citizens and foreign residents of Denmark, Iceland and Finland to enter the country.
On Friday, Norway government added Spain, Greece and the Netherlands to the list of approved countries and it is slated to be reviewed once in two weeks based on criteria such as infection rates and hospital admissions.
Apart from 18 regions in Sweden, Bulgaria, Croatia, Luxembourg, Portugal, Romania and Hungary will remain on the list of restricted countries.
Norway has also restricted travel to countries outside Europe, including Russia, Turkey and Ukraine, which are not part of the European Union.
Norway citizens returning from a restricted country have to undergo a 10-day quarantine.
As of Thursday, Norway had as many as 8,954 COVID-19 cases, with 252 deaths.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field