Yahoo News Norway handled Covid better than Sweden – but it had nothing to do with lockdowns or masks
Norway confirmed its first case of Covid-19 on February 27, but it was not until mid-March that the country’s prime minister, health minister, and the director of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH), went on national television and advised caution. The message was clear – the world is in crisis, and we need to act now to control the infection.
Our neighbour Sweden is often criticised for not locking down, with many pointing to Norway’s lower Covid death rate. What most fail to mention is that we didn’t have a full lockdown either.
Yes, schools, kindergartens, higher education institutions, hairdressers and gyms were shut, we were encouraged to work from home, non-essential travel was discouraged, and restrictions were imposed on international arrivals. But shops, restaurants and bars stayed open, we did not impose any kind of curfew, and there have been no rules about when or how many times one can go out. As with Sweden, face masks are not mandatory – and very few people wear them.
Instead, authorities put a strong emphasis on social distancing, the importance of taking care of the vulnerable, and the need to avoid burdening the health system. Norwegians have criticised the confusing Covid-19 messaging from the Swedish health authorities, and many view Sweden’s efforts in this regard as a failure.
The number of people travelling to “Syden” – the South – has been low this year. Norwegians chase the sun all year round, but Easter, up until the late summer months, are usually busy travel months. However, the spring restrictions were so strict that people quickly cancelled all overseas plans. Sweden was off-limits, and for a time the government even put restrictions on people travelling to their mountain cabins.
Many in the country came to accept early on that travelling abroad was not an option in 2020. So, we have stayed close to our families and met friends outdoors. As people began to realize there would be nowhere to go, boat sales went up, and by mid-summer the fjords were packed with people from various parts of the country, hopping from island to island.
Norwegians actively sought domestic destinations during the summer. Gaustatoppen, Pulpit Rock, Trolltunga, Besseggen, and many mountain cabins and trails, which used to be filled with international tourists, were teeming with locals. Meanwhile, those who wanted a quieter summer packed their sleeping bags, put on their hiking boots, mounted their bikes and embraced the outdoors. The sale of hammocks and outdoor gears shot up. Others rafted and kayaked. “Norwegians could not go anywhere, so they decided to explore their country and spend money here,” said one rafting business owner told me. With the arrival of autumn, the season was about to wind down, but Norwegians were still calling to book trips.
Norway has kept the rate of Covid-19 infections low – it has registered 19,000 coronavirus cases since February, and 281 people have died so far. Over the months, the government has refined its testing and tracking capabilities. The fortnight following the first positive case was uncertain, but when the government tells the people that they need to practice caution, Norwegians listen. There is a deep sense of trust here towards the political system, the government, the leaders, and, most importantly, the information they share with the public. A survey from September shows that seven out of 10 Norwegians trust the government’s coronavirus messaging.
Norway faced the Covid-19 pandemic with grace and sensitivity. The leaders trust science, prioritize accurate information and always take care of the vulnerable first. Often in Norway, communities, including strangers, come together to accomplish a project. In Norwegian, this event is called “dugnad”. When the pandemic hit, Norway’s call to arms was in the form of a national dugnad; Norwegians were asked to put their best forward.
Earlier this week Norway tightened travel restrictions again. The new rules advise against international trips until mid-January. Christmas for Norwegians is a family affair, and if you don’t have relatives abroad, the restrictions won’t affect you. Syden is still cold in January, and many are hoping for a vaccine soon so they can plan their travels. In the past few days, it has gotten colder, reminding us that winter is not far away. In the meantime, as we wait for the vaccine, we will dust off our skis and hope for snow.
