COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) – Sweden is tightening national coronavirus restrictions by requiring many people to work from home and reducing the number of people who can gather in restaurants, shops and gyms from next week, but the government has decided to complete the first closure of the country is not recommended. manage a recent spike in virus cases, the prime minister said Friday.
Sweden stood out among European countries for its relatively hands-off response to the pandemic. The Nordic country has not closed down lockdowns or businesses, but instead relies on citizens’ sense of civic duty to fight infections.
However, the country has seen a rapid increase in the number of confirmed cases putting pressure on the healthcare system. Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said, “The situation remains very serious,” which is why the government is setting new limits on public activities.
“We think a lockdown is a burden on the population,” said Lofven. “We follow our strategy.”
The new restrictions that will take effect on December 24 include making face masks mandatory on public transport and shifting a nationwide closing time for bars and restaurants to sell alcohol until 8:00 PM instead of 10:00 PM.
Lofven said people with non-essential jobs should work from home, and Education Minister Anna Ekstrom said schools should continue to plan for distance learning.
“It is not possible to return to normal everyday life. The pandemic is about life and death, ”Deputy Prime Minister Isabella Lovin said at a press conference with Lofven.
According to the latest figures, Sweden, which has a population of 10 million, has reported 367,120 confirmed virus cases and 7,993 deaths since the start of the pandemic.
Since the first COVID-19 cases were registered in the country, Swedish authorities have advised people to distance themselves socially, but schools, bars and restaurants have remained open.
The government and Sweden’s chief epidemiologist, Anders Tegnell, repeatedly defended the country’s coronavirus strategy, reporting one of the world’s highest per capita COVID-19 death rates. Tegnell said earlier this week that the death toll “is likely to continue to rise in the coming weeks.”
Discussing the new requirement for face masks, Johan Carlson, the head of Swedish Health, said on Friday that the authorities have “never been against” making masks mandatory.
“We don’t believe it will have a very decisive effect, but it could have a positive effect on public transportation at certain times,” said Carlson.
He added that they “can be useful in certain environments where you can’t keep your distance.”