The Oslo Omicron Outbreak and its 'breakthrough infection rate' = 73%--UPDATED

Norwegian media reports that sequencing revealed that 105 of 145 participants were infected

A brief follow-up on the Oslo Omicron Outbreak. There had been a report by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (IPH) that came out last week (see here for the report, as well as here, here, and here for my accounts).

Today, and without referencing any new updates from the IPH, Norwegian media is reporting that the total number of infected people was actually higher: a whopping 105 out of 145 restaurant-goers—which is still some 72-73%--actually were affected by ‘breakthrough infectivity’ among ‘fully vaccinated’ attendants.

Here’s the main take-away, as per Dagbladet:

‘The health authorities also assume that all those infected have the new variant.’

While the OOO is spiralling out of control of public health authorities—it’s too many attendants who came from many different municipalities—there are also reports surfacing about another outbreak at the Norefjell Ski & Spa, with more than 700 guests having been asked to get tested.

No need to worry, the government will announce more stringent measures at 8 p.m. (local time), as per the IPH’s ‘recommendation’. What is in these ‘recommendations’?

I’m glad you asked, as per Aftenposten, these may include:

• No more alcohol sales in bars [good luck with that, this one was hugely unpopular in the first house arrest in spring 2020]

• Health Authorities recommend canceling all large events, but smaller gatherings may be o.k. (indoor limit: 20 people at all events, which has always been a recommendation and now it looks like this becomes a mandate)

• Outdoor events may be limited to 100 people [well, I only say: same like with the ‘vax mandate in the U.S., if your party is 99 invitees, the virus is gonna stay out, right]

• Gyms and swimming pools will be closed and only open for individual training [how and by whom is this to be controlled—it doesn’t say]

• A one-size-fits-all quarantine rule, regardless of the virus variant [you can’t make this up]

• Private gatherings are limited to 20 people indoors, and 50 people outdoors [see my comment on the outdoor non-private events; also, bring pitchforks in case someone would like to check papers or stuff]

• National ‘yellow level’ in kindergartens and primary schools [means reduced opening hours, no school lunches, and, probably, a few more days of Christmas vacations for the students, which will also keep at least some of the parents at home]

So, that’s what’s probably coming, even though these are measures that are far in excess of last year’s Christmas season.

EDIT: I began composing this update shortly before the government announced the new restrictions, and I shall deal with them in a separate posting.