Corona virus: Daily Life Precautions

The Institute of Public Health issued new guidelines on 10 March following the single biggest day in new positive cases. They now recommend that all events with over 500 participants be cancelled. In addition, Norwegians are asked to be “extra clean” when using public transport, while employers are encouraged to consider an increased use of ´home offices´.

Home quarantine
Home quarantine is intended for people without symptoms of COVID-19 but who have been in close contact with a confirmed case or have been in areas with ongoing transmission. The World Health Organization (WHO) advises those who feel sick and who have recently returned from–or come into contact with someone who has returned from–a trip to one of the high-risk areas to avoid going to the doctor or hospital. You should instead inform the health authorities by telephone and quarantine yourself at home. You may leave your home during home quarantine, but avoid close contact with others.

This means:

do not go to work or school
do not travel or take public transport
avoid places where you can come into contact with others

Home isolation
If you are isolated at home because of suspected or confirmed COVID-19 it is very important that you stay at home - no work, no school, no public transportation or shopping. If you are potentially infectious, it is important that you separate yourself from your your housemates. If you feel sick or experience symptoms call 116117 for advice and testing. Do not visit the doctor's office in person.

General advice
To prevent infection, people should keep at least one metre away from people with respiratory symptoms and those who are ill should avoid coughing or sneezing directly onto others. Try to cough / sneeze into a paper tissue (disposed carefully afterwards) or into the crook of the elbow.

Good hand hygiene, both among the sick and the healthy, is important to prevent transmission of infection. Wash hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and lukewarm water, especially when you have been in contact with other people. Hand disinfection is a good alternative if hand washing is unavailable. If your hands are visibly dirty or wet, hand disinfection has a limited effect so hands should be cleaned with soap and water.

There is no vaccine against the disease.