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In Stockholm, the epicenter of the Swedish epidemic, the number of cases of contagion by the new coronavirus reached its lowest level since March to the end of August, local authorities announced this Thursday, cited by AFP.
In the Swedish capital and neighboring regions, 250 of the 14,000 people who were tested last week tested positive for the new coronavirus, representing 1.8%. This is “the lowest level reached in a long time,” said Per Follin, coordinator of the Stockholm Department of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention.
Although “we can’t really make comparisons” over time, because large-scale testing started only in June, Per Follin cautioned, yet the reported infection level has never been this low “since the 10th week. The 11th. epidemic “, that is, from the first half of March.
Before June, the Stockholm authorities were only testing serious hospitalizations.
The number of intensive care patients who tested positive for COVID-19 is also very low: Hospitals in the Swedish capital region had only six patients in such units on August 31, compared to 225 at the end of April, according to statistics. published by the Local Health Authority.
“The reason we have relatively poor transmission today is largely due to the fact that many people in Stockholm follow the advice to stay home when sick, wash their hands and stay away from other people.” Per Follin said in a statement.
Unlike many European countries that are experiencing a resurgence of COVID-19 cases, such as France, the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium, medical data from Sweden shows a decline in infections since June. The reproduction rate (called “R”) of the virus has been almost permanent in subunit values since the beginning of July.
The daily death toll peaked in April, before gradually declining.
Contrary to measures imposed in the rest of Europe, Sweden has not placed its population in solitary confinement at home. However, the authorities launched a call for responsibility: physical distance, strict application of hygiene regulations and isolation of people with symptoms.
However, the balance is questionable: with more than 5,800 deaths and 84,729 cases, Sweden is among the most affected countries in the world, relative to its population.
The Swedish national authorities are also not currently recommending the use of a sanitary mask, stating that they are still considering this issue and could introduce such a measure if they deem it necessary.
The Public Health Agency said it did not expect a major resurgence of novel coronavirus cases in Sweden, where schools reopened in mid-August.
