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  • Weekly reports for coronavirus and COVID-19

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Weekly reports for coronavirus and COVID-19

Published Updated

Here you will find the weekly report about coronavirus and COVID-19-epidemic in Norway. The latest summary is translated to English, earlier versions of the reports can be found below.

Here you will find the weekly report about coronavirus and COVID-19-epidemic in Norway. The latest summary is translated to English, earlier versions of the reports can be found below.

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About this publication

  • Year: 2020, 2021
  • By: Norwegian Institute of Public Health
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Summary and assessment for week 47

Severe COVID-19 disease course

  • So far, 164 new patients have been reported to be admitted to hospital with COVID-19 as the main cause in week 47, an increase from 151 in week 46, but at the same level as week 45 (n = 163). There was an increase in new patients admitted in the age group 18–44 years (40 in week 47 after 25 in week 46). In other age groups, the trend was stable. A clear increase in new patients admitted to intensive care units has been reported in week 47, currently 34 in week 47 after 20 in week 46.

  • The incidence of hospitalisations and overall deaths in recent weeks is significantly higher for the unvaccinated than the fully vaccinated. Among people aged 65 and over, the incidence is clearly lower in the groups that have received three doses. The incidence of fully vaccinated people over 65 has levelled off. The incidence is increasing among unvaccinated people aged 45-64.

  • 42 COVID-19 associated deaths have so far been registered in week 47 after 46 in week 46. The number of weekly deaths increased in the previous five weeks. The number for week 47 can be adjusted upwards. In week 47, the median age was 81 years (lower-upper quartile: 78 - 85 years).

Reported COVID-19 cases

  • There has been a steady increase in the number of reported cases over the past six weeks. It has so far been reported 18,318 cases of COVID-19 in week 47, a 25 % increase since week 46 (14,702) and almost six times more than in week 41. The majority (63 %) of the reported cases last week are under 40. The 6-12 year age group still has the most reported cases in relation to the population in week 47 (831 per 100,000), and the number of reported cases among people aged 80 and older has been stable in recent weeks. Oslo has the most reported cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the last two weeks (1,019 per 100,000 for weeks 46 and 47 combined), followed by Viken (781).

  • There have been major changes in test strategy throughout the autumn with increased use of self-tests and regular testing in some groups, especially in schools. This affects how many are tested and detected. Data on reported cases are therefore not directly comparable over time.

  • The new variant B.1.1.529 was defined on 26 November as a variant of concern by the ECDC and WHO and named the omicron variant. It is causing a growing epidemic in South Africa. Sporadic cases have been seen in at least 24 countries, of which 12 are European. Some cases cannot be traced back to southern Africa. Surveillance for virus variants in Norway has been intensified with active screening for the new variant. Samples from several cases with a possible omicron variant are sent in for analysis, so far 2 cases have been confirmed in Norway, two probable cases have also been detected and are expected to be confirmed soon.

  • Delta is currently dominant in over 99 % of cases in Norway and most other countries. There is otherwise great diversity in the delta viruses that are now circulating and causing outbreaks in Norway and delta AY.4.2 is still most common in Trøndelag.

Vaccination against COVID-19

  • As of 28 November, 71 % of the entire population, 87 % (16 years and older) and 88 % (18 years and older) have been vaccinated with 2 doses of coronavirus vaccine. 91 % of the population aged 18 and older are considered protected, either through vaccination or from being infected. A total of 92 % of 16–17 year olds and 74% of 12–15-year-olds are vaccinated with one dose, and 50 % of 16–17-year-olds have been vaccinated with a second dose.

  • A total of 47 % of all 65-year-olds have been vaccinated with a booster dose; in the age group 65–74 years, the proportion is 29 %, 69 % in the age group 75–84 years and 67 % among those 85 years and older. The health service has begun to provide booster doses to priority personnel and a total of 13 % and 15 % have been vaccinated with three doses in the primary and specialist health services, respectively.

Mathematical modelling

  • With a model that does not take into account hospital admissions, we estimate that the reproduction number a week ago was 1.1 (95 % CI 0.9–1.3). There are differences in trends between counties.

Respiratory tract infection other than COVID-19

  • New data sources and analyses for hospital admissions with respiratory tract infections are presented in this week's report. This winter season's increase in hospitalisations with respiratory tract infections has started unusually early and has been of a magnitude that can usually be seen around Christmas. This early peak of admissions with respiratory tract infections appears to be mainly due to admissions due to RS virus in children. At week 46, the percentage distribution of admissions with the different groups of respiratory tract infections was as follows: lower respiratory tract infections 43 %, RS virus 33 %, COVID-19 14%, upper respiratory tract infections 9 % and influenza <1%.

  • The incidence of respiratory tract infections in the population is still significant, but declining since week 44. The incidence of RS virus is still high, but sharply declining after a peak in week 45.

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More main points from week 47

  • High vaccination coverage contributes to protection against a severe disease course. The number of new admissions to hospital and intensive care units for COVID-19 increased until week 45, but has levelled off in weeks 45-47 despite a rapidly increasing number of registered infected cases in the entire period from week 41 until week 47. It is mostly elderly fully vaccinated people and middle-aged unvaccinated people are now experiencing a severe COVID-19 disease course. Vaccination protects well against a severe disease course after SARS-CoV-2 infection. It is therefore crucial for the further development that the unvaccinated begin their vaccination, and that people over the age of 65 receive their booster dose. In addition, healthcare professionals, especially those who care for the elderly, must be offered a booster dose to further reduce the risk of infection to patients.

  • The municipalities must contribute to increasing compliance with the strong encouragement to stay at home and be tested if new symptoms arise. The municipalities must ensure that the inhabitants have good access to self-tests and know what to do in the event of a positive self-test. The COVID-19 epidemic, other infections, high sickness absence and the lack of foreign temporary staff are putting a strain on the health service. The municipalities must, in consultation with their hospitals, continuously assess the need for local measures that can reduce transmission and the strain on the health service.

  • If the omicron variant proves to have a greater transmissibility than the delta variant, the omicron variant will eventually dominate, and the epidemic may become more difficult to control. Meanwhile, we will try to delay this by detecting omicron cases and stopping local outbreaks. Then we buy ourselves time to vaccinate more elderly people and obtain a knowledge base for any changes in the strategy against the pandemic.

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2021

Andre halvår 2020

Første halvår 2020

25.02.2021: New version of the report due to a change in the date from 17.2 to 21.2

23.6.2020: Ny versjon av ukerapport for uke 23 publisert (versjon 3), pga feil figur 12. Ny figur lagt inn.

10.6.2020: Ukerapport for uke 23. feil prosent angitt i avsnittet på side 13. Versjon 2 av rapporten publisert.