Update on the quarantine regulations for the Nordic and EU/EEA/Schengen countries
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As of 25th of July the main update is that Spain changes from a green status to red while Hungary goes from red to green. In Sweden, four new regions are opened for travellers without requirements for entry quarantine when crossing the Norwegian borders: Östergötland, Örebro, Kalmar and Värmland. These are in addition to the regions that are already green in Sweden: Kronoberg, Blekinge and Skåne.
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Go to the home pageThe Government's resolution on quarantine regulations are assessed on an ongoing basis, at least every 14 days. The updated entry restrictions for the Nordic countries and other European countries is published at:
- Infection control advice and entry quarantine on arrival in Norway (with tables and map)
Europe
The countries marked in green on the map meet the criteria for exemption from quarantine duty. For travellers from countries marked in red, the 10-day quarantine still applies when entering Norway.
Spain changes status from green to red. This is especially due to the situation in the regions of Aragón and Catalonia. Andorra also changes from green to red, while Hungary changes from red to green. The requirements for entry quarantine on entry from Hungary has been lifted, but will be introduced for Spain and Andorra.
There have been many questions why a regional assessment is not made for the rest of the EU, EEA and Schengen area. The reason for this is a varying database available for the different regions in Europe. As of now, there are few countries in Europe that make assessments at a regional level and if all countries are to be assessed at a regional level, this includes approximately 800 regions in Europe.
"Nevertheless, we will consider whether travel advice can be given at regional level in larger parts of Europe in the future. Although we try to create a system that can stand the test of time, it will be based on new knowledge as well as our own and other countries' experiences in order to have as good a system as possible when we assess the advice on quarantine obligations. The goal is always to reduce the risk of importing coronavirus to Norway", explains chief medical officer Are Berg at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.
Nordic countries
There are changes only at the regional level in Sweden. The other Nordic countries are still green. The four new regions where travellers have no requirements for entry quarantine when entering Norway are Östergötland, Örebro, Kalmar and Värmland. The regions Kronoberg, Blekinge and Skåne remain green .
Some regions in Sweden (Östergötland and Örebro) are above the limit of 20 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants, but nevertheless they have a green status after the update on 24th of July.
“The reason for this is that we see a sharp downward trend in recent weeks, and the regions will have less than 20 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants for week 30 if the development continues”, says chief medical officer Are Berg.
“In addition, the two green regions Kronoberg and Skåne now have numbers just above 20 cases per 100,000, but the situation there is considered stable, and is therefore still kept on the green”, he adds.
Advice on infection control when changing the requirements for entry quarantine
Opening the borders with no entry quarantine will entail an increased risk of importing infection with the coronavirus, and therefore a risk of transmission within Norway. Leaving Norway will also increase the risk of infection for travellers going abroad. The greater the difference in infection burden between Norway and the destination country, the greater the risk that travellers will be infected.
“This is also the basis for obtaining an exemption from the requirement for entry quarantine only in countries with less than 20 new confirmed cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the last two weeks, and fewer than 5 percent positive tests on average in the last two weeks”, concludes Are Berg.