Covid 19 coronavirus: Sweden hits dismal virus record as country warns infections will worsen

Sweden has reached another new record for coronavirus infection and has reached a “critical juncture,” according to the country’s chief epidemiologist.

Dr. Anders Tegnell warned that pursuing herd immunity is unethical or justifiable after Covid-19 cases in the country soared 70 percent in a week.

The country, known for its mild approach to the virus, recorded its highest number of infections for the second day in a row.

Authorities are now recommending residents of the capital Stockholm, as well as those in two southern regions, limit contact with people and avoid closed spaces, as Sweden recorded an official record of 3,254 new cases in one day.

People are urged to avoid social interaction and closed shops, libraries and other public spaces.

Neighboring Denmark has also made masks mandatory in enclosed public spaces.

“So far there has not been any infectious disease whose transmission has been completely stopped by herd immunity without a vaccine,” Tegnell told Die Zeit, a German newspaper.

“Fighting for herd immunity is neither ethical nor justifiable.”

This goes against what the expert epidemiologist said in May.

At the time, Tegnell told the Financial Times: “In the fall there will be a second wave.

“Sweden will have a high level of immunity and the number of cases will probably be quite low. But Finland will have a very low level of immunity. Will Finland have to go into full lockdown again?”

However, that expected immunity does not appear to have been achieved, and reports even in June already indicate a low level of immunity in the community.

A study at the time, conducted by the country’s Public Health Agency, found that only 6.1 percent of the country’s population had developed antibodies to the coronavirus by the end of May. This figure was well below the 40 percent predicted by Tegnell.

Now the face of Sweden’s virus response said the recent spikes in cases were partly the result of more intensive screening and testing, but admitted there was also a further spread of the infection.

“We have more new infections than in the summer and we are taking it very seriously,” Tegnell said.

“But the curve is rising less steeply than elsewhere. So far, the increase has not resulted in more people needing to be admitted to hospitals. Overall, we are quite satisfied.”

On Tuesday, Swedish authorities warned that the situation was likely to get worse.

His public health agency told residents of the northern Uppsala region to avoid public transportation and not to meet people outside their home for two weeks.

The same advisory has now been issued in the southernmost region of Scania, but for a period of three weeks.

But while other countries fighting a second wave of the virus are introducing mandatory restrictions, the measures in Sweden are only recommendations and are not legally binding.

“This is a tough fall and it will probably get worse before this is over,” Tegnell told a news conference.

“Last week, the number of new cases increased by 70 percent compared to the previous week, one of the largest increases we have seen.”

Sweden has rejected the kind of mandatory closures seen in other parts of Europe, preferring to appeal to people’s sense of responsibility.

While polls show that the majority of Swedes support this approach, the strategy also has its detractors, both at home and abroad.

Some accused Sweden of playing Russian roulette with people’s lives early in the pandemic, as the death toll surpassed those in neighboring countries with tougher measures.

As of Friday, the country with a population of 10.3 million had registered a total of 121,000 Covid-19 cases and 5,934 deaths.

– with wires