Norway and France lift pandemic restrictions
The countries join others that have put an end to the vast majority of Covid restrictions, such as Ireland and Denmark.
Starting this Wednesday, the vast majority of the restrictions decreed as a consequence of the covid pandemic will be lifted. The main reasons are the low mortality and severity of the omicron variant and the high vaccination rate.
Restaurants and nightclubs will have the possibility to sell alcohol after 11:00 pm. No capacity limitations in massive events, and restrictions in schools are eliminated and the teleworking era is over.
However, it will be until February 17 that the use of face masks indoors in crowded places will no longer be mandatory.
The Norwegian Minister of Health, Ingvild Kjerkol, declared that in short, betting on the common sense of citizens, they should take into account the distance meter and the use of masks in crowded places.
Norway is joining European countries such as Denmark, which eliminated the restrictions a week ago or Finland, which has indicated that they will do so in the course of February.
In mid-December there was a large increase in the number of infected persons, exceeding record numbers of contagions and hospitalizations, for the moment, the Norwegian health authorities applied restrictive measures that alleviated the situation.
Being one of the countries least affected by Covid, Norway has a record of 1,440 deaths, and has a mortality rate of 27 deaths per 100,000 people, seven times lower than Spain, five than Sweden and half than Denmark.
The health authorities have indicated that according to records, 90.9% of the population of legal age has the complete vaccination schedule.
Restrictions were also lifted in France.
This Wednesday would be the date that was stipulated for France to remove the restrictions that were in place since the fifth wave of covid was detected in December. The use of face masks outdoors would no longer be mandatory.
President Emmanuel Macron, in his statements, indicated that this is only the beginning for the lifting of restrictions.
The process is constantly being evaluated by its team of experts and they have verified that for a few weeks they have had a “low incidence rate”.
Teleworking will no longer be mandatory, as well as the use of face masks in the streets. Macron recommended companies to continue teleworking for a few more months, but it is up to each company to decide. Since December, 3 days of teleworking were mandatory in jobs where it was possible.
On the government website, they indicate that if it is not possible to maintain a considerable distance from other people, you must put on a face mask.
Likewise, they recommend continuing with the hygiene protocols of constant hand washing and alcohol disinfection.
Other measures that will come into force this Wednesday is the elimination of capacity limits for public events and shows, which had a limit of 2,000 people in closed places and 5,000 in stadiums.
However, the measure of presenting proof of vaccination and the use of a mask at events will be maintained.
The president noted that the next phase of removal of restrictions will be subject to evaluations of the pandemic numbers.
If it is positive, the clubs, which have been closed since December, may reopen and shows for the standing public may be organized and alcohol consumption in bars will resume.
If the pandemic conditions allow it, the sanitary protocol in schools will be reduced. This measure will be submitted for discussion by the Health Defense Council chaired by Emmanuel Macron.
The number of daily infections in France remains high, although it has decreased in recent days. On Tuesday there were 416,896 infections in only 24 hours.