Norwegians due to COVID-19 to spend a vacation at home

The Norwegian authorities due to the threat of a coronavirus pandemic recommended the population of the Kingdom not to travel abroad until the end of August and plan holidays at home. 

"Take advantage of this summer vacation to better discover this fantastic place that is Norway," said the country's prime minister Erna Solberg. 

Norway imposed a ban on all non-mandatory travel abroad since March 14, extending the measure until August 20. By June 15 the authorities intend to take a decision on lifting the travel ban to other Northern European countries, and by July 20 - a decision on the possibility to travel to other neighboring countries, in particular, to Germany and the Baltic States. 

The share of the tourism sector, which employs about 175,000 people, is NOK 121 billion. As a result of the COVID-19 quarantine measure the industry lost 90% of cash receipts compared to the same period in 2019. 

The European Union previously called on its member countries to reopen their internal borders to resume tourism, which has been most affected by the quarantine measures than other sectors of the European economy. Norway is not a member of the European Union, but is part of the Schengen area. 

In Norway the situation with the spread of the new coronavirus is relatively good. So far a little more than 8,000 cases of the disease have been registered, and more than 230 people have died.