Coronavirus around the world: Austria started mass testing before Christmas (timeline) – World

Sweden doesn’t need masks yet, a senior health official said today at a time when COVID-19 deaths in the country topped 7,000 and after the World Health Organization (WHO) expanded recommendations for the use of masks, Reuters reported. The WHO said yesterday that where the coronavirus spreads, people, including children and students aged 12 and over, should always wear masks in stores, workplaces and schools where there is no adequate ventilation, and when taking visitors to their homes in stuffy rooms.

However, the Swedish Health Service, which is largely behind Sweden’s strategy of not quarantining, has refrained from recommending the use of masks, arguing that there is insufficient evidence of their efficacy and that masks can be used as an excuse not to. isolates itself when there are symptoms. “Face masks may be needed in some situations. These situations have not yet arisen in Sweden, as shown by our discussions with the (health) regions,” Sweden’s chief epidemiologist Anders Tegnel told a news conference.

“The WHO is aware that the evidence in favor of masks is weak. All the research so far suggests that it is much more important to keep your distance than to wear a mask,” he said. In an attempt to prevent a severe second wave of the infection, Prime Minister Stefan Leuven announced today that secondary schools will switch to distance learning for the remainder of the year.

Sweden recorded 35 new deaths from COVID-19, bringing the total to 7,07. 6,485 new infections were also reported.