First case of coronavirus tested in Arctic Norway

A woman from the city of Tromsø has tested positive for the coronavirus after returning from affected areas in China. Photo of Tromsø, Norway. (Atle Staalesen/The Independent Barents Observer)
A woman from the north Norwegian town of Tromsø has tested positive for the coronavirus.

The woman was tested after her return home from affected areas in China, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health informs.

The person is well and reported to have no symptoms on disease. The case is the second so far in northern Scandinavia. In late January, a 32-year-old women from Wuhan, China, tested positive during a visit to Finnish Lapland.

«Analyses of the test performed today show a weak positive result, while a previous analysis was negative, explains Line Vold, Director of the Department of Infection Control and Preparedness.

«The analyses of the sample shows traces of coronavirus. The method of analysis is sensitive enough to detect inactive viruses,» she elaborates.

According to Vold, there is little risk of contamination of others.

«The Public Health Institute considers it very unlikely that the person poses an infection risk to others. To be on the safe side, the person is in quarantine at home and is being followed up by local health services in line with advice from the Institute,» she says.

Possible contacts are being traced to ensure there has been no transmission.

The woman lives in Tromsø and local authorities are closely following up her situation. She is now in quarantine in her private place of living.

Related stories from around the North:

Canada: No confirmed cases of coronavirus in Canadian Arctic, but here’s how they’re preparing, CBC News

Finland: Arctic Finland’s first coronavirus patient released from hospital symptom-free, Yle News

Norway: Concern over coronavirus outbreak impacts tourism in northern Europe and Arctic Russia, The Independent Barents Observer

Russia: Mass vaccination against anthrax continues on Yamal Peninsula, The Independent Barents Observer

Sweden: Warnings in Sweden about dangerous bacteria in Baltic Sea, Radio Sweden

United States: Alaska sees first measles case since 2015, Alaska Public Media

Atle Staalesen, The Independent Barents Observer

For more news from the Barents region visit The Independent Barents Observer.

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