Regulations relating to amendments to the COVID-19 Regulations

I

In the Regulations of 27 March 2020 No. 470 relating to infection control measures etc. in connection with the coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19 Regulations), the following amendments are made:

Section 5 shall read:

Section 5. Requirements for persons who are to undergo entry quarantine

Persons in entry quarantine shall stay in a quarantine hotel during the quarantine period.

The duty to stay in a quarantine hotel does not apply to

1. persons who reside in or own a home in Norway, and who stay in the home or another suitable place of accommodation;
2. persons who have come to Norway to perform work or an assignment, and have an employer or client who has provided a suitable place of accommodation with a private room during the quarantine period;
3. asylum seekers and resettlement refugees.

The municipality shall offer persons staying in quarantine hotels the opportunity to be tested for SARS-CoV-2 during the quarantine period.

Persons exempted under the second paragraph shall be able to document upon entry a suitable place of accommodation to carry out quarantine.

Persons in entry quarantine may be outside the place of accommodation only if they are able avoid close contact with persons other than those with whom they live. Persons in quarantine may not be at a workplace where others are also present, at school or at a day-care centre. Use of public transport is not permitted.

Persons in entry quarantine may, however, use public transport to reach their quarantine location from an airport, a port or similar place of arrival. Those who leave Norway during the quarantine period may use public transport during departure. Those over the age of 12 shall wear a face mask.

Persons who develop acute respiratory infection with fever, coughing or shortness of breath during the quarantine period shall contact the health and care service to be tested. Even if the test result is negative, they shall remain in quarantine for the rest of the quarantine period.

New section 5a shall read:

Section 5a. Requirements for persons who are to undergo infection-related quarantine

Persons in infection-related quarantine shall stay in their own home or other suitable place of accommodation, and may be outside the home or place of accommodation only if they are able to avoid close contact with persons other than those with whom they live. Persons in quarantine may not be at a workplace where other persons are also present, at school or at a day-care centre. Use of public transport is not permitted.

Persons in infection-related quarantine may in exceptional cases use public transport to reach a suitable quarantine location following a special assessment by the municipal medical officer. Those over the age of 12 shall wear a face mask.

Section 5, seventh paragraph, also applies to infection-related quarantine.

Section 15, fourth paragraph, shall read:

The enterprise shall not receive customers who have symptoms of acute respiratory infection with fever, coughing or shortness of breath, or who are to be in quarantine or isolation under sections 5, 5a, 8 and 11.

Section 20, second paragraph, shall read:

The Ministry of Justice and Public Security may in these Regulations establish requirements for carrying out the quarantine hotel arrangement, for designating host municipalities, and for employers and individuals to cover a share of the accommodation expenses.

II

These Regulations enter into force on 9 November 2020.