SPECIAL REPORT: Norway prolongs entry restrictions until April 7

OSLO, MAR 13: The restrictions on entry to Norway will be continued until April 7. Most restrictions will probably be extended even after that.

“Strict entry rules will also be continued after April 7, but we will look at whether we can open up for a few selected groups by that date,” Minister of Justice and Emergency Management Monica Mæland (H) said at a press conference on Friday.

The entry restrictions that came into force on January 29 mean that only people with necessary purposes can travel to Norway.

New corona measures

Furthermore, Mæland announced that everyone who has been on holidays abroad will have to quarantine in a hotel in Norway until they have received a negative coronavirus test.

That can happen at the earliest on day three of the quarantine.

However, there will be some exceptions to the quarantine hotel requirement. These can include people who have been on necessary trips, people with minor children, people traveling due to the birth of their child, people visiting dying or seriously ill close family, and people participating in the funeral of a close family member.

The quarantine rules themselves will remain the same as before. The quarantine is still ten days. It can be shortened to seven days if a negative test is received.

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COURTEYS norwaytoday

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NORWAY SPECIAL REPORT: Oslo tightens corona measures again, “red” level introduced for all schools

OSLO, MAR 10: The infection situation in Oslo is very serious, City Council chief Raymond Johansen (AP) said during a press conference on Tuesday. 

He urged the city’s population to take personal responsibility.

“Right now, the situation is very serious. Each of us must now take personal responsibility for reversing this development,” Johansen said.

The City Council announced that the measures would be tightened further – all schools and kindergartens will have to operate at the “red” level. 

People should avoid visits at home, have as few close contacts as possible, and avoid gatherings indoors completely, Johansen said.

He pointed out that the mutated virus variants have made it much more difficult to beat the infection in this round. Last week, more than 1,300 people were diagnosed with coronavirus in Oslo, the largest number ever.

Mutated virus

“A large part of the city’s population can be vaccinated by the summer. But that does not help us right now,” Johansen said.

When asked by NTB about why the infection is rising, Johansen noted that many people are careless in complying with the infection control rules.

He pointed to children and young people in particular, who meet each other across cohorts, classes, and sports teams.

“It is an important cause of the infection we now see, because this mutated virus is so much more contagious than we have seen before.”

Kindergartens and primary schools 

Kindergartens and primary schools will have to operate at the “red” level in Oslo, and leisure activities for children will be banned. 

“We have never seen so much infection among the younger population,” Jonahsen added.

The new measures will apply until Easter. The “red” level does not mean closed schools but a greater degree of school from home. 

All indoor leisure activities for children and young people will be stopped, and leisure clubs with indoor facilities will be closed. 

Johansen says the City Council would like to shield children and young people, but that it is unfortunately not possible to do so due to the mutated virus.

“We see that the infection is now increasing sharply among the youngest. The mutated varieties are more contagious among children and young people, and we have never seen so much infection among the younger ones as we do now. The infection is increasing throughout the city and in all age groups, but to a particularly large extent among those between 10 and 19 years,” he warned.

Responsibility

At the same time, Johansen warned residents who are tired of measures.

“Now, each of us must take on personal responsibility to reverse this dangerous development,” he said.

Until after Easter, he asked that people meet as few others as possible and avoid having home visits from others. 

He also asked people to limit possible close contacts and keep the greatest possible distance from others. Indoor social gatherings should be avoided altogether.

In addition to tightening the rules for children and young people, all the other infection control measures that have already been introduced will be continued. 

Restaurants must be kept closed, with the exception of takeaway. Only grocery stores, pharmacies, and some other stores can stay open. There is still a ban on events and the serving of alcohol. 

Gyms, theaters, and cinemas have to remain closed.

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COURETESY norwaytoday

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The “Under” underwater restaurant: Underwater dining in Norway looks amazing

 

Under the Sea

Time to turn Disney-version The Little Mermaid’s “Under the Sea” ballad into a reality.

Michelin-star rated restaurant Under is located in Lindesnes Municipality, one of Norway’s southernmost counties.

The incredible dining space sits five and a half meters below the surface – and it’s the first of its kind in Europe.

Since its opening in March 2019, Under remains the largest submerged restaurant in the world.

Fantastic food to match the ambiance

Lindesnes Municipality boasts a diverse marine life and landscape. This richness is reflected in Under’s gastronomic offer, as the restaurant uses only fresh, usually local ingredients free of any preservatives and artificial flavorings.

As a guest, you can be treated to a seasonal menu – featuring a little bit of everything. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage pairings are also available, with prices ranging from 850 to 2,250 NOK.

Seafood on the menu includes local crab, lobster, and other crustaceans, and numerous types of clams.

The restaurant also features a plethora of fresh sea ingredients you won’t find in any other eateries. Think sea arrow grass, sea rocket, and sea kale.

On the land-loving food side, Under provides a delightful, locally sourced array including wild berries, mushrooms, seabirds, and sheep.

Experience

The restaurant aims for not only culinary excellence but informative insight into marine biology as well. It offers guests a total nautical package.

Through the restaurant’s unique location, chefs and guests gain a better understanding of the food on our plates, how it got there, and the sea, in general.

Architecture

It’s not easy to build a fully functioning restaurant underwater. That’s why a team of expert architects invested their best efforts to create one of the best around.

The concrete exterior and interior of Under help the restaurant withstand fierce water pressure and erosion – plus, they look neat! Under’s floor-to-ceiling windows offer a glimpse of what it’s like to live underwater, with surroundings of aquatic flora and fauna that are unlike anything on land.

As you slip away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and enter the restaurant grounds, you’re greeted with a pristine, wooden foyer. Vibrant oak counteracts the dark concrete interior within. Upon entry to the dining area, a handful of chairs are dashed around enough tables to seat up to 100 guests, with a dramatic backdrop of the ocean straight ahead.

If you’re an adrenaline lover, visit when the weather is stormy – you’ll get to see up the tumultuous waves close and personal. On nicer days, you’ll be able to view sun rays dancing across the water.

Eventually (far into the future, we hope!), the Under team will allow the restaurant to succumb to the forces of mother nature, turning into an artificial reef that will house many aquatic animals in need of a home.  

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COURTESY norwaytoday

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FOR SNOW LOVERS: Snow expected almost all over Norway this weekend

OSLO, MAR 4: After a cold start to the weekend all over the country, snow lovers will be able to experience fresh snow both in Oslo and on the mountain tops in Bergen.

This weekend will be characterized by snow showers that are heading north. The temperature will be so low that most of the precipitation will come down as snow. 

“The showers on Friday will go from Stad and all the way north to Finnmark… You will occasionally get a break, and possible glimpses of the sun,” on-duty meteorologist Eldbjørg Moxnes at the Meteorological Institute told news bureau NTB.

North wind

Moxnes says there will be north winds all over the country at the beginning of the weekend. Outside the stretch from Møre og Romsdal to Finnmark, the weather will be nice. Sunday is a bit uncertain, but it looks like it will snow in Oslo.

“I’m a little unsure about Sunday – whether there could be some snow or rain in Oslo. So winter is not quite over yet. It will return, and on Tuesday-Wednesday next week, there will be more precipitation,” Eldbjørg Moxnes noted.

A lot of snow

On Friday, areas north of Stad will see a lot of precipitation. Down towards the coast, people should expect sleet and rain.

“The location of the low pressure in the north is uncertain. Therefore, it is difficult to say anything about how the wind strength will be from Trondheim and north to Finnmark,” Moxnes added.

On Saturday, there will be precipitation in Western Norway, south of Stad as well. In Møre- og Romsdal and Trøndelag there will be strong westerly winds.

“In the Bergen area, precipitation will come as rain along the coast. But in the higher areas, up to 200 meters only, there will be snow. Østafjells will be sheltered throughout the weekend. The fine weather there will continue, but it will be colder,” the meteorologist noted.

Sunday will otherwise offer a little less snow than Saturday. Scattered showers will also come from Western Norway and the north on Sunday. 

In addition, the temperatures will drop.

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COURTESY norwaytoday

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Pakistanis living in Norway allowed to keep dual nationality

 

ISLAMABAD, FEB 18: In a landmark decision, the Pakistan government on Wednesday has allowed its citizens living in Norway to keep dual nationality.

The move was taken after the federal government received complaints on the Pakistan Citizen’s Portal on the issue on January 25.

The “government has approved dual nationality arrangement with Norway,” said a notification issued on Wednesday by the Interior Ministry. This means that residents can keep citizenship to both countries.

In January 2020, Norway allowed its citizens to keep dual nationality. The law change meant that foreign citizens no longer have to relinquish their original citizenship in order to become Norwegian citizens.

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COURTESY whenwherehow

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