A new assessment of whether we can progress to stage 4 of the government’s reopening plan will be made in mid-August.

– The pandemic is not over yet. There are worrying developments in several European countries due to the Delta variant, also in countries with higher vaccination coverage than Norway, such as the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. There is uncertainty regarding the impact of the Delta variant in Norway in terms of the spread of infections and disease. Therefore, the government chose to follow the advice of the Health Directorate and the Norwegian Institute of Health and Welfare and not implement step 4 of the reopening plan now, said Minister of Health and Care Bent Høie.

However, some minor adjustments are being made to step 3. These changes will take effect from midnight, the evening of Monday August 2nd.

The government is more open to adults who are not athletes. From next Monday, adults can participate in sporting events across regions and circuits. This applies, for example, to matches, conventions and competitions.

– This is another good news for sport, and the final milestone for normal sports activities for our athletes. Relaxed restrictions on spectators still apply when sporting events are held. In any case, things are moving in the right direction, and we look forward to an autumn season with lots of sporting activities and sporting excitement for young and old across the country, said sports president Berit Kjøll and added:

– But it is important to emphasize that this pandemic is not over. The delay of step 4 in the government’s reopening plan is an important reminder to us all how important it is that we continue to stop and follow infection control rules. Sport will continue to toe the responsible line and adhere to the infection prevention rules in force at all times.

For more information on the government’s reopening plans, read here: