OSLO, Dec 7, Reuters - The Norwegian government has imposed stricter rules on Tuesday to limit the spread of COVID - 19, including a cap on the number of visitors in private homes and shortening the hours bars and restaurants can serve alcohol.
In recent weeks, the Nordic country has seen a surge in COVID 19 infections, followed by a rise in the number of hospitalisations.
We really wish we were done with the pandemic. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said at a news conference that the situation is now so serious that we need to put in place new measures to keep control.
He said that it will be a different Christmas holiday this year.
The households should not invite more than 10 visitors, and people must keep a distance of at least one metre from anyone who is not a member of the household. He said every day the serving of alcohol must stop at midnight 2300 GMT.
The measures, imposed for an initial four weeks, are less strict than in European countries such as Latvia or Austria, which imposed full lockdowns but tougher than in neighbouring Sweden, which has recommended, rather than imposed, the use of face masks in public transport.
The prime minister said that a one-off exception will be made during the upcoming Christmas holidays, where each household can pick a single day to have as many as 20 visitors.
Schools are exempt from the distance rules but must prepare to introduce them if required.
Finance Minister Trygve Slagsvold Vedum said that companies that are affected by the restrictions will receive compensation from the government.
For the first quarter of the year, the government plans to suspend a per seat tax normally imposed on airlines.
The government imposed restrictions on travellers last week, requiring that anyone arriving in the country must test for the coronavirus and wear face masks in most crowded places, but the infections still haven't gone well.