Norway’s new justice minister, Monica Mæland of the Conservative Party, has asked the state police to hire up to 400 extra police officers. She claims they’re needed to boost staffing during the Corona virus crisis and to enforce new quarantine rules.
“More police are now in quarantine or out sick, at the same time that the police need to handle important new assignments,” Mæland said in her now-daily press briefing. She said she’s asked the police directorate to hire new graduates from the police academy along with students in temporary positions, to help out.
Police will now be in charge of enforcing quarantine rules, which are punishable with fines of NOK 20,000 (USD 2,000). All Norwegians returning from abroad, including short trips over the border to Sweden and Finland, will be subject to 14 days in quarantine upon return.
Norwegians traveling to their own holiday homes (hytter) in Norway will also be subject to fines of NOK 15,000 if their hytte is located outside their home municipality. Most are.
State authorities want Norwegians to simply stay home and avoid socializing or working with other people until at least March 26, to help stop the spread of the virus.
newsinenglish.no staff
