U.K. COVID variant now dominate strain in Oslo

Norway’s Public Health Institute sounds the alarm

The U.K. COVID variant has spread like wildfire through Norway’s most populace region. 

The Norwegian National Institute of Public Health said today the U.K. variant now accounts for between 50 and 70% of all COVID infections in Oslo, the surrounding metro area, and adjacent Viken county. In early January the variant accounted for just 8% of positive corona tests. 

NIPH Director Camilla Stoltenberg says the situation, especially in Oslo, is challenging.

“It is important with good, fast, and accurate measures to get control and get the infection down. This now places great demands on the municipalities and their ability to react.” 

The health agency says it has screened 72% of all positive tests in Oslo and 43% in Viken county over the last month for variant infections. 

According to the health agency’s coronavirus dashboard there are currently 1,137 variant infections in Norway. 

The National Institute of Public Health strongly recommends extensive testing, infection detection, contact tracing, and quarantines to try and curb the variant spread. 

Since yesterday’s update Norway has added 305 new infections and had no new deaths.