Covid Update from Norway
Official Numbers from Week 45
In its most recent available report, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health published the following main findings:
158 new patients have so far been reported in week 45, after 144 in week 44, and 111 in week 43.
There has been an increasing trend in the age group ≥ 65 years in the last five weeks, with 89 new patients admitted in week 45 compared with 30 in week 41, and the number in the age group ≥ 65 years is now at the same level as in spring 2021.
24 new patients have been reported as admitted to intensive care in week 45, after 33 in week 44.
The vaccination status of these newly hospitalised patients with Covid-19 as the main cause in week 45 is known in 151 cases (out of 158):
‘Of these 57 (38 %) were unvaccinated and 90 (60 %) were fully vaccinated. The incidence of new hospital admissions is significantly higher among the unvaccinated than the vaccinated.’
For a quick comparison, here’s the data broken down into weekly numbers from week 40 through 44:
Week 40 (4-10 Oct. 2021, details on p. 3): 53 new hospitalisations with Covid as the main cause, whose vaccination status was known in 46 cases; the relationship was 26 unvaccinated (57 %) vs. 20 fully (twice) vaccinated (43 %).
Week 41 (11-17 Oct. 2021, details p. 3): 59 new hospitalisations with Covid as the main cause, known vaccination status in 54 cases: 24 unvaccinated (44 %) vs. 30 fully (twice) vaccinated (56 %).
Week 42 (18-24 Oct. 2021, details p. 3): 75 new hospitalisations with Covid as the main cause, known vaccination status in 66 cases: 25 unvaccinated (38 %) vs. 37 fully (twice) vaccinated (56 %).
Week 43 (25-31 Oct. 2021, details p. 3): 105 new hospitalisations with Covid as the main cause, known vaccination status in 99 cases: 33 unvaccinated (33 %) vs. 60 fully (twice) vaccinated (61 %).
Week 44 (1-7 Nov. 2021, details p. 3): 135 new hospitalisations with Covid as the main cause, known vaccination status in 120 cases: 56 unvaccinated (47 %) vs. 61 fully (twice) vaccinated (51 %).
Week 45 (8-14 Nov. 2021, details on p. 3): number of new hospitalisations (158) is almost 3 times the number five weeks earlier (+298 %).
The trend changed in/around week 41, with the majority of new hospitalisations due to Covid as the main cause of admission, and while it’s not as crystal clear as elsewhere (e.g., in Israel or the UK), time will tell.