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What are Norway’s coronavirus 'quarantine hotels' and who is obliged to stay at them?

The Local Norway
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What are Norway’s coronavirus 'quarantine hotels' and who is obliged to stay at them?
Illustration photo: Marten Bjork on Unsplash

People arriving in Norway from abroad are required to comply if they qualify for ‘quarantine hotel’ isolation under the country’s coronavirus restrictions.

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Editor's note: rules relating to accommodation at quarantine hotels have changed. Check with Norwegian authorities for up-to-date information before travelling.

 

The quarantine hotel rule was introduced by the government on November 9th.

The quarantine period remains at 10 days, as it did prior to the use of hotels, and the same rules apply regarding who must quarantine.

Anyone entering Norway from ‘red' countries in the EEA or Schengen area and all travellers from countries outside the EU/ Schengen area are currently obliged to comply with quarantine requirements. You may also have to present a negative Covid-19 test to be allowed to enter the country.

Norway's rules on which countries and regions qualify for quarantine are subject to change.

You can find more detail on entry and quarantine rules here.

Since November 9th, everyone required to observe entry quarantine must stay at a quarantine hotel during the quarantine period. That includes Norwegian citizens and residents, with three exceptions: people who reside or own a home in Norway and can stay there; Norwegian students returning from study abroad who can stay with their parents or own registered address; and people who come to Norway to work and have accommodation arranged by an employer.

People staying at a quarantine hotel must pay a set charge of 500 kroner per night (1,500 kroner per night if employers are paying). The remaining expenses are covered by local municipalities who in turn will be reimbursed by the state.

While staying at a quarantine hotel, you can be tested for Covid-19, but the duration of the quarantine period is not reduced even if you test negative for the virus.

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On arrival in Norway, police will inform the traveller about the requirement to stay at a quarantine hotel and inform them which hotel to go to.

Some municipalities organise transport, while others don’t. It is permitted to use public transport to get from the airport, harbour or border crossing to your quarantine hotel, but local coronavirus restrictions (for example, the use of face masks on public transport if applicable) must be followed.

READ ALSO: Norway extends coronavirus restrictions by three weeks

Any breaches of quarantine duty observed will be reported to the police.

Paragraph 5 of Norway’s infectious disease law (smittevernloven) states that, if you are encompassed by rules requiring a stay at a ‘quarantine hotel’, you are obliged to comply, with some exemptions.

If you do not comply, you could be punished with a fine or up to six months in prison under the law’s paragraph 19, according to VG, although the newspaper also reports that few fines appear to have been issued so far.

A few other exceptions apply with regard to quarantine hotels. These include:

  • people who can document that have had a confirmed case of Covid-19 within the last six months
  • people entering Norway as part of access and contact arrangements between parents and children, or those returning to Norway after fulfilling such arrangements abroad
  • people invited by the Norwegian authorities for foreign policy reasons

Source: Government.no

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