| dc.description.abstract | The covid-19 pandemic has made a significant impact all over the world since it was first discovered in December 2019. Reducing the threats associated with the virus quickly became top priority for policymakers. This thesis aims to look into the governmental pandemic risk management in Norway, focusing particularly on the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and their covid-19 risk assessments. The thesis presents an evaluation of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health’s (NIPH) covid-19 risk assessments from a risk science point of view. The evaluation allows for the observation of risk science trends and degree of adherence to contemporary risk science in the risk assessment. It presents main actors within the governmental pandemic risk management in Norway and reflects on how NIPH’s role influence the decision-making. The main risk science concepts that are discussed in this thesis is the risk concept, uncertainties, knowledge and strength of knowledge, risk assessments, the balance of different concerns and risk communication.
The work finds that NIPH’s covid-19 risk assessments comply with contemporary risk science to some degree, however there are also areas for improvement. One of the main findings is that the NIPH definition of risk is not in line with current risk science as it does not sufficiently reflect uncertainties and knowledge. The way risk is defined and characterized can largely impact the risk assessment and the following decision-making, and because NIPH have an advisory role in the governmental risk management in Norway it will be beneficial for them to adopt a broader risk definition that reflects uncertainties and knowledge. This will allow the Norwegian Directorate of Health (HDIR) and the Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services (HOD) to make appropriate decisions as they are aware of all important aspects of risk, not just the probabilities and consequences.
As the epidemic develops NIPH are able to gather more knowledge and data, and this is reflected in their risk assessments. The thesis discusses the trends related to the dynamics of the pandemic and attempts create an overall understanding of how risk science can support covid-19 risk assessments and management. | |
