Easing of the guidance for people who are fully vaccinated

Historical archive

Published under: Solberg's Government

Publisher: Ministry of Health and Care Services

News story | Date: 28/04/2021

The Norwegian Government is changing the guidance for people who are fully vaccinated, following a recommendation from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. In private homes, people who are fully vaccinated may have close social contact (less than 1 metre) with other people who are fully vaccinated. They can also have close social contact with unvaccinated people who do not belong to a risk group. Vaccinated and unvaccinated people must follow the same rules and advice in public spaces.

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"Evidence increasingly shows that the vaccine provides good protection from serious illness and transmission of the virus. We must apply this knowledge and ease measures wherever possible", says Minister of Health and Care Services Bent Høie.

Two doses are necessary in order to achieve full protection.

One set of rules for public spaces
Even though the vaccine offers good protection, people who have been vaccinated can still become infected with COVID-19. It is also possible for them to transmit the virus. This applies even if people are unaware that they are infected.

"Out in public it is not possible to know if unvaccinated people who belong to a risk group are close by. As long as there are many unprotected people in society, and since vaccinated people occasionally may become infected and transmit the virus to others, all people must follow the same rules and advice in public spaces", states Mr Høie.

He points out that there is a need for clear and simple rules and advice in areas where many people congregate.

Work ongoing with COVID-19 certificates
"As more and more people become vaccinated, it will be possible to ease the restrictions regarding numbers and other general infection prevention measures in society for everyone. We are also working on a national COVID-19 certificate", points out Mr Høie.

The COVID-19 certificate will contain information about a person's vaccination status, whether they have had COVID-19, and their most recent test status. This may result in the easing of certain measures in public spaces for people who hold a valid certificate. However, vaccination will not be the only factor.

"We are also looking at how a person’s vaccination status may affect their duty to quarantine", says Mr Høie.

Guidance for people who are fully vaccinated:

In private homes and in cars, people who are fully vaccinated may have close social contact (less than 1 metre) with other people who are vaccinated, even if they belong to a risk group.
People who are fully vaccinated can have close social contact with unvaccinated people who do not belong to any risk groups.
People who are fully vaccinated should continue to keep a good distance (at least 1 metre) from unvaccinated people within a risk group who they do not live with.
The rules and advice that apply out in public (in public spaces, including public transport) have not changed. This includes rules and advice regarding distance, numbers, hygiene, and use of face coverings.