On Friday, Norwegian police announced the news that Prime Minister Erna Solberg had been fined for violating COVID-19 social distancing laws when planning a family gathering to mark her birthday.
The fine is 20,000 Norwegian crowns ($2,352 or Rs 1.75 lakh approx. ), according to police chief Ole Saeverud.
Facing a government ban on celebrations of more than 10 guests, the two-term prime minister apologized last month for hosting a party to mark her 60th birthday with 13 family members at a mountain resort in late February.
Although most such incidents may not have resulted in a fine, the prime minister has been at the forefront of the government’s efforts to enforce controls, according to the police.
“Though the law is the same for all, all are not equal in front of the law,” said Saeverud, justifying the fine.
The announcement comes a day after the Prime Minister told Parliament on Wednesday that Norway planned to eventually lift certain prohibitions related to the COVID-19 pandemic by the end of June, but that it first needed to see a decrease in infection rates and hospitalizations.
Since the start of the pandemic early last year, Norway has had some of Europe’s lowest rates of illnesses and deaths, but hospitalizations spiked in March, owing to more infectious coronavirus strains.
Solberg outlined a four-step blueprint for loosening Norway’s controls, with the first three steps expected to be accomplished by the end of June, potentially lifting many travel restrictions in time for the summer vacations, unless new setbacks arise.
She didn’t specify how long she expects the fourth period, which will also have certain limits, to continue.
“Before we open up we need to see low and stable infection rates. It is important that the number of hospitalizations comes down from today’s level,” Solberg said.
