New regulations on quarantine etc. after travelling outside the Nordic region
Historical archive
Published under: Solberg's Government
Publisher: Ministry of Health and Care Services
News story | Date: 14/03/2020
Regulations on quarantine etc. after travelling outside the Nordic region were approved in the Council of State on 13 March 2020. In addition, the King’s special authority pursuant to section 7-12 of the Act relating to control of communicable diseases was delegated to the Ministry of Health and Care Services. The Regulations repeal the Regulations relating to a Decision under to the Act relating to control of communicable diseases, section 4-1, second paragraph, on quarantine (isolation) after travelling outside the Nordic region, which was adopted by the Directorate of Health on 12 March 2020.
‘We are doing this to provide necessary clarifications to the quarantine rules that were first issued by the Directorate of Health on Thursday. It has been decided among other things that people arriving in Norway shall not travel to Svalbard until after their quarantine period has ended,’ said Minister of Health and Care Services Bent Høie.
The Regulations stipulate that persons arriving in Norway from countries other than Sweden or Finland must undergo quarantine for 14 days after entry into Norway. The Regulations apply to persons who have arrived in Norway after 27 February 2020. This also applies to persons arriving in Norway from Sweden or Finland who have stayed in other countries during the past 14 days. Travellers arriving in Norway may choose to return rather than undergoing quarantine.
‘Due to coronavirus developments in Denmark and Iceland, people arriving from these countries must also undergo quarantine for 14 days under the Regulations,’ Mr Høie said.
The regulations make provision for an exemption from the quarantine rules. Persons who are essential to maintain the proper operation of critical public functions and attend to fundamental needs of the population, including persons who perform goods and passenger transport functions, are exempted. Use of the exemption must be clarified with the entity’s management. Persons included under the exemption shall, to the degree possible, avoid close contact with other persons.
The Regulations also specify that persons in quarantine who develop cold symptoms such as coughing, fever or shortness of breath shall remain in isolation from the time symptoms first appear until 7 days after all symptoms are gone. “Isolation” in this context refers to a person staying in his or her own home or other suitable place of accommodation.
Persons who have symptoms upon arrival in Norway shall immediately undergo isolation in a place designated by the municipal medical officer. Persons with symptoms may not use public transport to reach the place designated for isolation.
Regulations on quarantine etc. after travelling outside the Nordic region