Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg announced new coronavirus restrictions for the country as it seeks to stop a third wave of cases.
Reuters reports the new restrictions include a nationwide ban on serving alcohol in restaurants and bars, as well as advice not to host guests.
“We are seeing more signs of a new wave of infections,” Solberg said at a news conference.
According to Reuters, Solberg said Norwegians should postpone their social life for the next two weeks.
“I ask you not to have visitors in the house. Wait a fortnight before inviting someone home or visiting others, ”she added.
These new restrictions don’t come until a day after the country shuts down university colleges and instructs students to stay at home. Stores, kindergartens and elementary schools will remain open, Reuters notes.
The Norwegian government announced on New Year’s Eve mandatory tests for travelers arrival in Norway must be done within 24 hours of arrival.
In the announcement, Solberg said, “We are now concerned about import infections and new outbreaks involving new mutated versions of the virus. In addition, we are concerned that many will return to Norway after Christmas from countries with increased infection levels.”
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Norway has confirmed 48,278 cases of coronavirus and 436 deaths so far. On December 29, the country broke its one-day case record with 2,125 coronavirus infections.
“The government has been forced to make decisions very quickly,” Solberg said in her New Year’s speech, reflecting back to 2020. “Often in situations of uncertainty. We didn’t get everything right on our first try. But we have our decisions to incorporate what we learn along the way. “
Norwegian Health Minister Bent Hoeie said in early December that the country plans to use Moderna, AstraZeneca and Pfizer and BioNTech vaccines in the first quarter of 2021. Norway reportedly wants to immunize a quarter of its population in the first quarter. three months 2021.