Norway will keep strict border controls to avoid new infections – PM

Norway must maintain tight control of its borders to avoid importing Covid-19 cases from abroad, Prime Minister Erna Solberg said on Friday. The country has some of the strictest travel restrictions in Europe.

“There is still a danger of new infections… Cases of infection coming from abroad is the biggest danger today,” Solberg told parliament. “So it is important to keep control.”

Norway is not a member of the EU but belongs to the passport-free Schengen travel zone. Most non-residents, including tourists, are still not allowed into the country. However, those who work in sectors deemed crucial, such as agriculture or oil, and persons who can prove a family link with Norway, may travel there. They must undergo a 10-day quarantine, Reuters said.

People from mainland Sweden are not allowed into the country, given the higher number of infections there.