The Government decided today (24 January) to expand the temporary entry ban that has been in effect for Denmark to also include Norway. The entry ban enters into force at midnight on Sunday 24 January and remains in effect until 14 February. Today’s government decision also means that the temporary ban on entry from Denmark and the United Kingdom has been extended until 14 February 2021. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has also decided today to reinstate the advice against unnecessary travel to Norway.
The Norwegian health authorities suspect a major outbreak in the Oslo area of the mutated variant of the COVID-19 virus that was previously reported in the United Kingdom. The Public Health Agency of Sweden’s assessment is that the suspected outbreak in combination with extensive lockdown measures may risk a massive influx of people to the Swedish side of the border. This increases the risk of congestion in nearby Swedish municipalities and, consequently, of further spread of the mutated virus in Sweden.
For this reason, the Government decided today to expand the temporary entry ban that has been in effect for Denmark to also include Norway. The Public Health Agency of Sweden submitted a proposal to the Government requesting such an entry ban yesterday afternoon. The temporary entry ban comes into force on 25 January and remains in effect until 14 February. The Government has also decided to extend the temporary ban on entry from Denmark and the United Kingdom until 14 February.
The ban on entry from Norway is formulated in the same way as the earlier ban in effect for Denmark. The same exemptions also apply, which means that people who live or work in Sweden, personnel transporting goods and other staff in the transport sector, and people with imperative family reasons are exempt.
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has also decided today to reinstate the advice against unnecessary travel to Norway. The decision applies until further notice.
“The reason for these strong measures is to prevent further spread of COVID-19 and more people in our society falling ill. The Government is closely monitoring the developments with the mutated virus variant and remains in continuous contact with the Public Health Agency of Sweden,” says Minister for Home Affairs Mikael Damberg.
Yesterday, the Public Health Agency of Sweden announced quarantine and ongoing COVID-19 infection testing recommendations for people arriving in Sweden from Norway, as is the case for people arriving from the United Kingdom. All people entering Sweden who have been in Norway in the past 14 days are encouraged to stay at home for at least seven days, avoid contact with others as far as possible and to get tested as soon as possible after arrival in Sweden, with a subsequent test five days after arrival. Other people in the household should also stay at home until a negative test result has been received. People who commute to Norway should avoid meeting people from outside their household when they are not at work.
