More information from the Nathional health authorities - Folkehelseinsituttet.
On their web- page Folkehelseinstituttet.no you will find information about home quarantine and home isolation.
Helsenorge.no has gathered information of the coronavirus on several languages.
If you press this link, you will find hygine advice on several languages and some videos.
Informasjon på teknspråk (norsk)
How to prevent infection
Good cough etiquette and a good sanitation of hands reduce infection from all respiratory infections, including the new coronavirus. The advices below should prevent transmission of infection, regardless of whether you are healthy or sick.
Handwashing
- Wash hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and lukewarm water, particularly after coughing or sneezing, after using the toilet, before preparing food, before meals, after contact with animals and if your hands are visibly dirty. Wash your hands after coming home when you have been in contact with other people.
- Hand disinfection products are effective against the coronavirus are a good alternative if hand washing is unavailable. If your hands are visibly dirty or wet, hand disinfection has a limited effect so hands should be cleaned with soap and water.
Cough etiquette
- Avoid coughing or sneezing directly to the others.
- Try to cough / sneeze into a paper tissue (disposed carefully afterwards), or into the crook of the elbow if you do not have tissues to hand.
Folkehelseinstituttet
Other preventive advices
- As a general rule for all infections, sick people should stay at home and not go to work/place of study/school/childcare centre.
- From 12th March, the Norwegian Directorate of Health introduced restrictions for visitors to all the country's health institutions. If the visit cannot be avoided, contact the department where the patient by telephone in advance so that necessary infection control measures can be implemented.
- Limit shaking hands, kissing and hugging - this can reduce transmission.
- Keep at least one metre away from both healthy people and people who are coughing or sneezing, if it is possible. This includes to limit contact with others, to not participate in leisure activities, to go to restaurants etc., where it is possible.
- Avoid using public transport where possible. The exception is for people with functions critical to society who need to get to and from work, and who need to maintain a distance to others.
- Avoid touching your face as much as possible - the virus can be transmitted from hands to mouth or the mucous membranes of the eyes and nose, and enter the body.
- We recommend to not use face masks for healthy people outside the healthcare service.
More information on helsenorge.no
People who have been travelling to countries affected by the quarantine rules
Everyone who comes from travelling aboard, should stay at home quarantine for 14 days. This has retroactive effect. That is, the quarantine is valid for 14 days from that day you returned home , regardless of whether or not they have symptoms. This also applies for anyone who arrived after 27th February (retroactive).
From 17.03.20, the decision also applies to people who have arrived in Norway from Sweden and Finland but without retroactive effect. Travellers who arrive in Norway can choose to return to the country they travelled from instead of having to be in quarantine.
Rules of quarantine
Home quarantine
Home quarantine is for people without symptoms of COVID-19 but who have been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 or people who have been abroad during the last 14 days.
It is important that you are alert for symptoms of respiratory infection. If you are a close contact of someone with confirmed COVID-19 and develop symptoms you should contact your doctor by telephone.
Others who live in the house with someone who is in home quarantine after travel, do not need to be in quarantine.
Home quarantine means :
You may leave your home but it is recommended to avoid close contact with others.
These rules apply for home quarantine:
- Do not go to work or school
- You can be in normal contact with household members if none of them are sick
- Do not take long trips in Norway or travel abroad
- Do not use public transport if it is not necessary
- Avoid places where it is difficult to keep a distance from other people
- As a rule, you should not visit public places such as shops and cafes. If there is no alternative, you can go out to carry out a necessary errand to the shop or pharmacy, but ensure that you keep a distance (1-2 metres) from other people and avoid queues.
- You can go for a walk, but keep a distance of at least 1 to 2 metres from others.
Home isolation
If you are sick, the advice for home isolation applies.
Home isolation means you must stay at home. You must not go out of your house, for example to visit shops or other public places. Your doctor will help to assess who can help you with any necessary purchases, in consultation with the District Medical Officer. Depending on the situation, this could be a neighbour or others, such as the community nursing service.
Home isolation applies for:
- People with confirmed COVID-19 but who do not need to be admitted to hospital.
- People who have symptoms of respiratory infection and are being tested for COVID-19
- People who are in home quarantine and who develop symptoms of respiratory infection.
Be aware of symptoms
Contact the health service (116177 or your personal doctor), preferably by phone, if your condition deteriorates (e.g. if you have difficulty breathing). Do not go to the doctor or the Emergency department – you might be contagious.
Orders from the local authorities
Kindergardens and schools are closed
All kindergardens and schools are closed from 13th of March untill after Easter if no other message is given. This applies to both the private and community offer.
Contact your school or kindergarden for more information.
The closure applies to:
- Private and community primary and secondary schools
- Private and community kindergardens
- All colleges
- School of Music and Performing Arts
- Newton Møre
- Adult education
Schools and kindergardens are open to some children and pupils
The municipality offers care to children in kindergarden and pupils 1. -4. level in school where the parents’ work is essential to society. Contact your school and kindergarden for more information.
Restrictions on visits to institutions and hospitals
All institutions and hospitals are closed for visitors. There might be given permission to visit in critical situations. Contact the institutions og hospital for further information.
Health stations
If you are pregnant or need to visit health station for other reasons, please contact them in advance and make an appointment.
The town hall and municipality offices
The town hall and the municipality offices are closed for visitors until 1st of May or until futher notice. It’s possible to call during the usual opening hours.
Many services are closed
All private physiotherapists, opticians and other special health services are closed. Please contact them by phone to get more information. Libraries, activity parks and other activity and fitness centers are also closed to prevent transmission of the disease. The closure is until 1st of May or until futher notice.
Closure of bars, pubs and restaurants
All services are closed by National health authorities except the ones serving food. Those which serve food can stay open, must provide a distance of 1-2 metres between each visitor.
Restrictions on meetings and arrangements
It’s not allowed to gather more than 50 people in meetings or arrangements. It’s important to clean surfaces at the meeting point often and thoroughly, and keep good distance between the participants – at least 1 metre.
Restrictions on entry Ålesund, Sula or Giske
To prevent transmission of the disease, all visitors from these counties must be in quarantine for 14 days after entering one of the 3 municipalities: The counties Oslo, Viken, Agder, Rogaland, Vestfold og Telemark, Innlandet and Vestland.
For more information:
You will find updated information in English and other languages on: https://helsenorge.no/coronavirus
Vidoes with general information in several languages: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuArDsXNEjNKb2eJU18MFuSAFnM4O3lrS
If you have questions:
- You can call National health authorities on: 815 815 015. They will answer general questions like which areas there are contamination and what the symptoms of the disease is.
- Ålesund kommune has a simular telephone: 70 16 40 60. You can phone between 08.30 – 15.30 on week days
- You can write an e-mail and ask general questions to: korona@alesund.kommune.no. You must ask general questions to your doctor or the Emergency department.