In Switzerland, most corona measures could fall in mid-February. In Norway, all restrictions are likely to end in the next few days. At least that’s what the Norwegian Institute for Public Health (FHI), which reports to the country’s Ministry of Health, demands. A government decision is expected on Tuesday.
Entry rules have already been relaxed in Norway. Nobody has to be in quarantine anymore unless they test positive for Corona on arrival.
The FHI experts are now calling for the speedy end of all corona measures – and thus for the population to be infected as quickly as possible. The “Aargauer Zeitung” reports on the new analysis.
Federal Councilor Alain Berset: These corona measures could soon be lifted(00:31)
Up to three quarters would become infected anyway
In the country, which has around 5.4 million inhabitants, around 20,000 new corona cases are currently being counted every day. For the FHI experts it is therefore clear: “It is difficult not to get infected. And the longer we maintain restrictions, the longer the epidemic lasts, ”says their report. Restrictions could only “reduce a small amount” of the infections.
Up to three quarters of all residents would be infected with the corona virus this winter anyway. Strict measures can slow down the process, but not stop it.
Maintaining the measures, the FHI experts say, could even be dangerous. The restrictions even made the situation for certain vulnerable groups “probably worse” than if the pandemic were allowed to take its natural course. For people who have been vaccinated twice or three times, it is best to be infected by Omicron as quickly as possible. Vaccination protection is now at its strongest.
An omicron infection after the second dose in younger people or in older people after the third dose also probably gives broader and longer-lasting protection than another dose of vaccination, they say.
Infection should protect better than another dose of vaccine
At the same time, the FHI makes it clear that if the measures are lifted, the number of new infections could rise to between 40,000 and 125,000 a day. Under certain circumstances, this would mean that 300 to 1000 new patients would have to go to the hospital every day, a small number of whom would also need intensive care. However, FHI director Camilla Stoltenberg believes the health service needs to be able to “handle it”.
In Denmark, where 40,000 to over 50,000 new infections are currently being recorded every day, the government has already followed the recommendation of the state serum institute: From Tuesday, people no longer have to wear masks and no longer have to show vaccination certificates. In addition, major events can be held again.
Despite the record high number of new infections, the Danes have fewer and fewer corona intensive care patients. Around a quarter of the population has already been infected since December. In addition, Denmark has a high vaccination rate: 81 percent of Danes have been vaccinated twice. The government therefore assumes that herd immunity will soon be achieved among the population. (noo)