OSLO – The New Year’s fireworks in Oslo are canceled due to infection control considerations, the municipality states. “An assessment has been made of whether the event could take place within the infection control rules and the guidelines that are available today, but the municipality can not see how to move forward without it leading to accumulations of people and greater risk of infection,” the Urban Environment Agency wrote in a press release.

Richard Kongsteien, communications director at the Urban Environment Agency, says it is a sad but correct thing to do.

The municipality is now working on an idea to mark the New Year that is more in line with the infection control rules.

This year’s celebration has had a budget of NOK 500,000 for fireworks and guards, the Urban Environment Agency added.