![\\"logo\\"](\\"/img/logo-dpa-factchecking.svg\\"/) *About ![\\"IFCN](\\"/img/ifcn-certificate.png\\"/) ![\\"EFCSN](\\"/img/efcsn- certificate.png\\"/) # Article jumps to conclusion about flu and COVID-19 in Norway 5.10.2021, 16:32 (CEST) Norway would have given COVID-19 a different classification, according to a article on the website Dissident.one. According to this article, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI) have labeled COVID-19 as a disease which is as dangerous as the common flu. The word is also going around Facebook in both the Netherlands (here and here) and Belgium (here). ## Judgement: This statement is incorrect. The FHI is of the opinion that COVID-19 is approaching should be considered a seasonal respiratory disease, but does not say that COVID-19 is as dangerous as the flu. The institute also confirms this dpa. ## Facts: The Dissident.one article is a direct translation of an article on the English website Free West Media. Both articles say that the alleged reclassification comes from the Folkehelseinstituttet (FHI), the Norwegian variant of what the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) in the Netherlands is. "The Norwegian Institute of Public Health FHI has the remarkable, but statistically based decision to classify Covid-19 as a respiratory illness that is as dangerous as the common flu," he said the Dissident.one article. "It is not correct that the Norwegian Institute of Public Health has claimed that COVID-19 is no more dangerous than the common flu," a spokesperson for FHI told dpa. \"This statement is probably one misinterpretation of this interview in a major Norwegian newspaper," explains the spokesperson. In the article of September 20, Geir Bukholm discusses it word, the deputy director and vaccine manager of the FHI.\'Coronavirus and flu not comparable "Our position, as stated in the news article, is that we are on this point in the pandemic we will have to approach COVID-19 as one of several respiratory diseases that circulate with a seasonal variation," said the institute. \"This means that the measures, which are for different respiratory diseases, the same degree of social preparedness applies will take.” "This does not mean that coronavirus disease and flu are comparable ," the spokesperson added. "On an individual level people receive the correct treatment for the specific disease they have suffering. We will review the epidemiological conditions of both COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases continue to monitor and remain prepared to be different respond when conditions deteriorate." No quote Who read the newspaper article with Geir Bukholm through Google Translate in the Dutch translation, on the other hand, sees that in the first sentence "Norway is moving to a new paradigm where the coronavirus no longer exists is more dangerous than other respiratory infections.\" This is not just a statement by Bukholm, but an addition by the writer of the article. This statement cannot therefore be attributed to Bukholm or the FHI. Various diseases Flu and COVID-19 are different diseases, with different viruses be the culprit. Comparing the two is therefore difficult. The American Johns Hopkins University writes that doctors and scientists are working hard to estimate the mortality rate of COVID-19. Currently According to the university, this number will be substantially higher (possibly ten times or more) estimated than most flu variants. According to the American health institute CDC, COVID-19 can be more serious complaints than flu in some people. Can also die or prevent hospitalization due to COVID-19 also in otherwise healthy people. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health confirms that it does not have COVID-19 have classified it as 'as dangerous as the flu'. The claim is therefore wrong. (State of play: 05/10/2021) ## Links: Article Dissident.One (archived) Facebook post 1 (archived) Facebook post 2 (archived) Facebook post 3 (archived) Article Free West Media (archived) Website FHI (archived) Article Verdens Gang (archived) About Geir Bukholm (archived) Johns Hopkins on flu vs COVID-19 (archived) CDC on flu vs COVID-19 (archived) Contact the dpa fact check team: factcheck-netherlands@dpa.com powered by dpa-newslab | Imprint | Privacy | About:
Norway reclassifies COVID19 as no more dangerous than flu