Background information

To maintain operations in the health and care services and other critical society functions during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Norwegian Directorate of Health made exceptions to the closure order of kindergartens and educational institutions. Managers of childcare centres and headteachers in primary schools were required to provide a service for children of healthcare personnel, personnel in the transport sector or within other critical society functions. Parts of the kindergarten and school services has thus been open to keep personnel critical to society in service.

Content of measure

In order to stop the spread of COVID-19 and to contribute to the maintenance of necessary health and care services, the Norwegian Directorate of Health has issued, according to the Infection Control Act, a decision to close schools and other educational institutions with effect from 16 Mars 2020. However, to maintain operations in the health and care services and other critical society functions, and to avoid the use of people in risk groups for babysitting, the Norwegian Directorate of Health made exceptions to the closure order. Managers of childcare centres and headteachers in primary schools were required to provide a service for children of healthcare personnel, personnel in the transport sector or within other critical society functions. The same applies to children with special care needs that cannot be taken care of when childcare, school or other day care facilities are closed.

The emergency response committee considers the following 15 functions to be critical to society: Government and crisis management; Defence; Law and order; Health and care services; Rescue services; IT security in the civilian sector; Nature and environment; Security of supply; Water and wastewater; Financial services; Power supply; Electronic communication services; Transport; Satellite-based services; Pharmacies.

Use of measure

No information to date.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Workers in essential services	Does not apply to businesses	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government	No special funding required

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Consulted	Consulted
Form	Direct consultation outside a formal body	Direct consultation outside a formal body

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• N/A
• Main level of involvement: Unknown

Involvement

N/A

Views and reactions

Social partners have been consulted regularly during design and implementation of the measure.

Sectors and occupations

This case is not occupation-specific.

Sources

• 13 March 2020: The Norwegian Directorate of Health has issued a decision to close schools and other educational institutions (www.helsedirektoratet.no)