Tag Archives: coronavirus
LOTS OF HELP – BUT TOO LATE FOR SOME? Government proposing 25M kr. in COVID-19 aid for tourism companies in Svalbard, but some said this summer help needed before fall
The Norwegian government is proposing a supplemental 25 million kroner in assistance for tourism companies in Svalbard due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to previously-approved crisis aid targeted toward businesses, the Ministry of Trade and Industry announced Monday.
Briefs from Svalbardposten for the week of Sept. 8, 2020
Month of local ‘TV auction’ activities start Saturday, with virus-related restrictions
A month of local activities for a national fundraiser – this time to remedy trash in oceans – is scheduled to start Saturday with the traditional relay race starting and ending outside Kulturhuset.
NORWAY BANS CRUISES TO SVALBARD: Cruises within archipelago with up to 30 people and day trips still permissible under new rule in effect until Nov. 1
A ban on all cruises to Svalbard until at least Nov. 1 was announced Friday by Norway’s government in an attempt to prevent the COVID-19 virus from reaching one of the few places on Earth with no known cases. Cruises within the archipelago with 30 or fewer people if on-board accommodations are part of the voyage are allowed, as are day trips.
‘DEVASTATING’ INVESTIGATION: Roald Amundsen doctors treated sick crew who had COVID-19 on July 21 – ten days before Hurtigruten reported first ‘known’ cases to officials
A formal investigation of the COVID-19 outbreak on Hurtigruten’s Roald Amundsen during two one-week voyages in Svalbard adds more findings described as “devastating” to an already long list of violations and questionable decisions, including crew members sick with COVID-19 who went unreported ten days before the outbreak was reported to authorities.
LAID OFF AND LEAVING? Here’s an awesome alternative to ‘travel home’ grants – luxury cruise ship stuck here for weeks needs 60 crew for two-month voyage east to Hawaii by Monday
A French luxury cruise ship stuck in Longyearbyen for weeks due to COVID-19 issues is suddenly in need of finding 60 crew members with tourism skills for a nearly two-month voyage east to Russia, Japan and Hawaii – that begins on Monday.
Gee, wonder if there’s anyone here with both the perfect skills and motive able to keep the company from having to seek out people not on Norway’s virus “red list” and fly them here?
FAREWELL FUNDS FOR FOREIGNERS: Travel grants for employees laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic to return to their homeland now available from city
Online applications are now available for foreign residents laid off from jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic to cover travel costs to return to their homeland, Longyearbyen’s municipal government announced Tuesday.
STILL NO COVID-19 IN SVALBARD – BUT AT A SICK COST: The world just passed 25 million cases; why is Svalbard one of about 10 places on Earth with none and at what extreme price?
The world’s northernmost town, one of about ten places on Earth with no COVID-19 cases, had its first death directly linked to the pandemic on Friday. But it wasn’t due to illness – it was a fatal attack by a polar bear on the manager of the local campsite as he lay in his tent, who because of extreme ban on all non-residents this spring was unable to come up and build an electric warning fence around the site that likely would have saved his life.
KAPUT FOR THE DEUTSCHE: Germany and Liechtenstein added to Norway’s growing ‘red list’ due to rise in COVID-19 cases
One of Europe’s few remaining countries not to rejoin Norway’s “red list” in recent weeks due to a “second wave” of COVID-19 cases is now the victim of ill fate, as people arriving from Germany and Liechtenstein will officially be subject to mandatory quarantine requirements beginning Saturday, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health announced Wednesday.
GREECE, IRELAND, UK AND AUSTRIA (AND COPENHAGEN) NOW ON NORWAY’S ‘RED LIST’: Quarantine requirement takes effect Aug. 22; northern Sweden downgraded from ‘red’ to ‘yellow’
The list of countries being re-added to Norway’s “red list” due to surges in COVID-19 cases took another big jump Wednesday, as people arriving from Greece, Ireland, the United Kingdom and Austria will be subject a mandatory 10-day quarantine starting Saturday. The requirement will also apply to the “greater Copenhagen” region of Denmark, although one reprieve will occur as the region of Norrbotten in northern Sweden is being downgraded to “yellow” status.
PAYING FOREIGNERS TO LEAVE SVALBARD: 3M kr. in grants to cover travel expenses for laid-off employees and their families begin Sept. 1; recipients ‘not banned from Svalbard’
Foreign residents from non EU/EEA countries who’ve been laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic are eligible for a total of three million kroner in grants to cover airfare and other travel costs to their homeland under a program to be administered by Longyearbyen’s municipal government between Sept. 1 and Nov. 15.
