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Definitions
Here are the definitions of suspected, probable and confirmed cases of COVID-19, of close contacts and of protected and fully vaccinated.
Here are the definitions of suspected, probable and confirmed cases of COVID-19, of close contacts and of protected and fully vaccinated.
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Suspected COVID-19
A person who meets the clinical criteria: acute respiratory tract infection and one or more of the following symptoms; fever, cough, shortness of breath, loss of sense of smell/taste, or who is considered by a doctor to have suspected COVID-19.
Confirmed COVID-19
A person with coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) confirmed by RT-PCR test, other nucleic acid amplification test or rapid antigen test (rapid immunoassay). See requirements for rapid antigen tests.
- Hurtigtest for påvisning av koronavirus - rapid antigen test for SARS-CoV-2 (in Norwegian)
Close contacts
You are considered to be a "close contact" if
- you have been in contact with a person with confirmed COVID-19 disease less than 48 hours before onset of their first symptoms. If the person who is confirmed to have COVID-19 does not develop symptoms, contact tracing is done from the time of testing.
AND - the contact has been
- less than two metres away for more than 15 minutes OR
- in direct physical contact OR
- in direct contact with secretions.
This does not apply when recommended personal protective equipment is used in the healthcare service.
Close contacts are regarded either as "household members and equivalent close contacts" or as "other close contacts."
Household members and equivalent close contacts
People are considered to be household members and equivalent close contacts if they:
- Live in the same household.
- Have had similar close physical contact as in a household (for example, boyfriend/girlfriend).
Fully vaccinated:
- Those who have received a second dose of vaccine. Status as fully vaccinated applies from 1 week after the second vaccine dose.
- Those who have had the disease and at least 3 weeks later have received a dose of vaccine. Status as fully vaccinated applies from 1 week after the vaccine dose.
- Those who have received the first dose of vaccine and then, at least 3 weeks later, have been diagnosed with COVID-19 infection. Status as fully vaccinated applies from the time you are out of isolation.
- Those who have been vaccinated with a single dose vaccine, effective from 3 weeks following vaccination.
- Those who have confirmed antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 by an approved laboratory method (with an antibody serology in a microbiological laboratory), and received one vaccine dose. The vaccine dose may be given the same day at the earliest. Status as fully vaccinated is valid 1 week following vaccination.
Partially vaccinated:
- Three weeks after the first vaccine dose (of a regimen with more than one dose).
Status as protected:
- Those who are fully vaccinated (see above).
- Those who have received the 1st vaccine dose. Status as protected applies from 3 to 15 weeks after the vaccine dose. This means that the second dose must be given no later than 14 weeks after the first dose in order to maintain a protected status until you are considered fully vaccinated.
- Those who have had the disease. Status as protected is valid for 12 months after a positive test.
The definitions related to vaccines apply to the following vaccines against COVID-19:
- vaccines that have a marketing authorization in Norway,
- CoronaVac and
- Covishield
Read more here:
Risk group refers to:
- People aged 65 years or older
- People from 18 years of age with certain defined diseases / conditions that increase the risk of severe disease course and death from COVID-19 (medical risk groups).
Read more here: