![]() ![]() Publicly run testing programs have also been shut down, leaving it up to individuals to test themselves and report any positive results. That means the authorities actually have “a poor overview over the extent of infection” in both Norway and Europe as of mid-June, according to Dr Espen Nakstad, the assistant state health director who became a well-known face in the media during the Corona crisis. ***State officials stopped updating daily infection and hospitalization numbers in May, when many thought the pandemic was over, at least in Norway. ![]() Its mutations can simply break through the immune systems built up through vaccination and earlier infection more easily. BA.5 now stands for more than 80 percent of all new cases in Portugal, where infection has risen the most. Hospitalizations are currently rising, but not dramatically, and he doesn’t think any new shutdowns will be necessary. “It looks like the new BA.5 has symptoms similar to the (previous) BA.2 variant,” Aavitsland said. He stressed, however, that FHI doesn’t expect many to become seriously ill. The wave followed increases in infection already both at home and elsewhere in Europe, and new variants of the Omicron strain were brought home as Norwegians started traveling again.ĭr Preben Aavitsland of the public health institute FHI, told news bureau NTB in June that the new wave wasn’t expected to be “as big as the one from February to April.” He nonetheless thinks “a few hundred thousand Norwegians” will become infected by the end of the summer, many for the second time. Immunity among the public has lessened, he said, just as the new BA.5 variant of Omicron is spreading because it can infect those who otherwise are fully vaccinated or been infected earlier. ***Norwegian health authorities expected a new wave of Corona virus infection this summer, and they got it. That’s expected to continue until there’s some form of global immunity. “Even though the pandemic has lasted for two-and-a-half years, we expect more waves this autumn and winter,” Nakstad told newspaper VG. “We expect any illness will become steadily milder after vaccinations and cases of the new variants.” He believes Norwegians are now as well-protected as possible against serious illness, with few of those falling ill this summer requiring intensive care.Īssistant state health director Dr Espen Rostrup Nakstad warned, however, that Norwegians must remain prepared for more waves of infection this autumn. ***Norwegians aged 75 and older are now getting offers of a fourth dose of the Corona vaccine, with those aged 65 and older expected to get similar offers “soon,” according to Dr Preben Aavitsland of FHI. FHI now reports that a total of 4,336,654 Norwegians have been vaccinated with at least one shot and 4,035,672 are now fully vaccinated, equal to 90.7 percent of the adult population, most of whom also have received their third booster. The number of new Corona patients needing hospitalization nationwide had declined to just two on May 11, the last time someone with Covid-19 was admitted, while the death toll stands at 3,061. NORWAY’S TOTAL NUMBER OF CONFIRMED CORONA CASES since the pandemic began rose to 1,430,171 as of May 13, according to state public health institute FHI, when daily updates ceased. The number of deaths rose to 83 during the first half of July, nearly 60 percent of them among the elderly.įHI (Folkehelseinstituttet) warned, however, that the infection situation remained unpredictable and could change as Norwegians return from summer holidays. By early July, hospitalizations per week had passed 300, but they were down to 252 towards the end of the month. ![]() The Omicron variant known as BA.5 continues to dominate in Norway, after taking hold in mid-June. ![]() The number of Norwegians admitted to hospital with Covid-19 is also declining. “Our overview indicates that the spread of infection within the public is on the decline,” FHI reported last week, and the trend is continuing. They’re now reporting fewer cases of Norwegians testing positive to the virus, and fewer hospitalizations. Brown eye color.THIS SUMMER’S WAVE OF NEW CORONA INFECTION HAS CRESTED, according to officials at state public health institute FHI. ![]()
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