Current Events > Norway to start reopening schools next week

(+) Yeah! (+)

Norway on Tuesday announced plans to open kindergartens from April 20, and some schools a week later, as part of its first relaxation of coronavirus restrictions. Here's what you need to know.

On Tuesday, Norway's government said they planned to issue guidelines on the reopening of schools, kindergartens and businesses. As these are published, we aim to add new information to this guide.

What restrictions are being lifted?

Kindergartens will open from April 20
Primary school classes for pupils in years 14, and out-of-school care programmes will re-open from April 27.
Upper secondary schools for second-and third-year pupils who following vocational education will be opened from April 27, under new infection control guidelines.
The ban on staying in country cabins will be lifted on April 20.
Hairdressers, skin care professionals and other businesses where there is one-to-one contact will be allowed to resume operations, under new guidelines from April 27.
Psychologists, physiotherapists, and other health practitioners who have close contact with patients will after April 20 be allowed to start giving treatment.
Parents or guardians who need to cross the border between Norway and another country in order to maintain contact arrangements with children will be excused quarantine (no exact date has been given, but it will come "quickly".
Sports can be resumed if it is possible to follow the recommendations of the Norwegian Directorate of Health on social distancing and group size.

What restrictions will remain in place?

Fitness centres, swimming pools, and water parks will stay closed
No visitors are allowed at old people's homes and other institutions for vulnerable groups
Most bars and restaurants will remain closed.
Libraries, passport offices, and the public access areas in police stations will remain closed
Stricter border controls will remain, with foreign nationals lacking a residence permit refused entry

Is it compulsory to return my child to school or kindergarten?

Kindergarten is not compulsory in Norway, so if you are worried about your child getting or spreading the coronavirus infection, you can choose to keep them home. Just inform the kindergarten's management about your plans.

It is, though, compulsory to send children to school between the between the ages of 6 and 15, so when your child's school opens after April 27, if they are well, they must attend.

If you were unwilling to do this, you could always claim that your child is sick. You could also look into home-schooling, which is legal in Norway, although you are unlikely to get a home-schooling request approved at short notice, and you risk losing your child's place at their current school.

When should I keep my child home?

If your child show symptoms, they should stay home until they have been symptom-free for 24 hours.

If either your child or someone else who lives with you belongs to a risk group, they should be kept home. This might include people with chronic lung disease - such as asthma - diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease or high blood pressure. It may be that the government will narrow this down so as not to capture too large a share of children.

It is still unclear whether children will be allowed to go to school if another person in their household has coronavirus-like symptoms.

https://i.imgur.com/3szCQ8c.jpg

People are going to die
---

God help any elderly teachers.

---

A think tank has advised the German government to partially open schools next week

The states are going to confer with the federal government tomorrow
---

This is a bad idea.

---

teepan95 posted...

A think tank has advised the German government to partially open schools next week

The states are going to confer with the federal government tomorrow

Damn it Germany
---

Didn't they just make fun of the US for not taking this seriously

---

They won't open the schools until may 4th at the earliest
---

This is Trump's fault.

---

Why do cabins out in the boonies piss off Europeans so much, anyway?

No way!

---

If Trump hadnt racistly acted

---

UnfairRepresent posted...

People are going to die

we'll have to wait and see what happens but in this scenario. i don't like this play.
it's going to lead to sadness and death :(.
---

We need to lock down until a vaccine is widely available. More blood on Trump's hands.

---

AlephZero posted...

We need to lock down until a vaccine is widely available. More blood on Trump's hands.

Trump has nothing to do with Norway
---

Studies are showing school closures are making little to no difference on the spread of this.

This needs to be implemented in Ireland.
I miss the pretty teachers

---

knutjob posted...

Studies are showing school closures are making little to no difference on the spread of this.

What studies?

Also I'm wondering why they are starting with kindergarten.

pistachio12 posted...

What studies?

Also I'm wondering why they are starting with kindergarten.

pretty sure opening up schools is gonna spread it a lot more. Cause you know, large groups of people. Together.

---

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-52180783

They start with younger kids because older kids don't need supervision. Younger kids take essential workers out of the workforce and are more likely to have to be looked after by older and more vulnerable adults.

taiwan has not sshut down any SCHOOLS at all and they are doing fine!

reopen everything!

---

SoundNetwork posted...

taiwan has not sshut down any SCHOOLS at all and they are doing fine!

reopen everything!

This is also not entirely true. The outbreak in Taiwan occured in the middle of the school holidays, which were extended until the outbreak cam eunder control.

yeah the German federal government and States agreed yesterday to slowly start opening the country again.

as of next week in Germany, small stores up to 800m are allowed to open
barbers are allowed to open in May under strict hygiene rules
Restaurants & Cafes (except for Delivery / Take Away), Bars, Clubs, Hotels (for tourists) remain closed
All "big" sporting / live events off until August 31st. (so all festivals, open airs, etc)
Schools are opening up slowely for graduating classes
until May no more than 2 people gatherings outdoors (except for families)
Masks should be worn in stores and public transport (not a must)

---

knutjob posted...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-52180783

They start with younger kids because older kids don't need supervision. Younger kids take essential workers out of the workforce and are more likely to have to be looked after by older and more vulnerable adults.

Hmm interesting. They are mostly looking to SARS and other flu outbreaks, but I feel like this situation is much different due to symptoms not preventing for such a long period of time. They also had studies at the beginning that suggested masks weren't useful and lockdowns weren't necessary yet we've seen how effective both have been.

In China, many retail and consumer businesses have reopened but schools mostly haven't. I'm curious if they have data to suggest why they are reopening last.

Yeah, I am losing track with mask advice. It seems to change so fast and is wrapped up in conspiracies and hidden agendas that a lot of other aspects of health advice doesn't have. My understanding of the current science stance is that they aren't effective in most scenarios but it can't hurt to wear them, which is fair enough I suppose but I do worry that adopting policy based on feelings over evidence can be a slippery path to start along.

SK8T3R215 posted...

This is Trump's fault.

somehow

---

Norway still has a king

---

Th3HonestTruth posted...

And mandatory military service

ugh
---

---