Norway imposes new restrictions to stop third COVID- 19 wave

Norway says it  will impose fresh restrictions to prevent a resurgence in the spread of the coronavirus.

Prime Minister Erna Solberg said there is a nationwide ban on serving alcohol in restaurants and bars.

The Nordic country has seen a rise in cases over the past month and now estimates its R number which represents the average number of people that one infected person will pass the virus on to stands at 1.3.

“We see more signs of a new wave of infections,” Solberg told a news conference, citing Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations and the emergence of the more contagious variant of the virus first identified in Britain among the reasons.

Norwegians must put their social lives on hold for the next two weeks in order to keep the virus under control, she said.

“I ask you not to have any visitors at home. Wait a fortnight before inviting anyone home or visiting others,” she said.

A day earlier the government announced that university lectures were suspended and told students to stay at home.

Shops, kindergartens and elementary schools will remain open. Middle schools and high schools will also remain open but will use more remote learning than currently.