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When the corona pandemic continues into the fall, the Swedish Public Health Agency hopes that the spread of the infection could explode mainly at the local level. So now they are preparing to quickly adapt their advice and recommendations to reality.
Johan Carlson, CEO of the Swedish Public Health Agency, describes it as a change in the management of the pandemic.
– Yes, if we have outbreaks in a county, we do not want to propose general measures that apply to the whole country, which we have done so far. It will be very strange. We have areas that are infected one or two a day in large regions. So it doesn’t seem natural to have general recommendations. But the basics should be last, he says, and reminds us to stay home in case of illness, keep our distance, and wash our hands.
Infection control is organized regionallyBut local restrictions can descend to an even narrower geographic level. Johan Carlson exemplifies with this summer’s outbreak in Gällivare:
– Then you can limit the measures only to that municipality. It is an advantage that we have municipal and regional limits: it must be clear in the councils and regulations. You can, for example, switch to distance education at certain hit upper secondary schools or universities.
He says they have a “great toolbox” to handle powerful eruptions. It also contains quarantine for individuals and a possible lower threshold for law of order.
– There may also be mouth guards at home while waiting, for example, for congestion to clear up in certain places on public transport. But our basic attitude is that we should have a society in which problems of origin are mainly addressed, that is: if there is congestion, it should be eliminated.
When can it be in place?
– Actually, I’d say it can be in place right away. We will expand the system in the coming weeks. A new reporting tool is part of this so we can try to get an idea of what is going on, says Johan Carlson.
Minister of Social Affairs Lena Hallengren (C) says there have been no legal obstacles to local restrictions in the spring. Despite this, they have consistently chosen to use national guidelines, something that has had its advantages, he says.
– Now we have raised the level, I would say. We should always have good hand hygiene and stay home when you are sick. It is something that has settled. On top of that you should keep building if something seems to be gaining momentum, he says and continues:
– Now the knowledge has increased. So it’s reasonable for us to use all the possible tools we need when you also see the local outbreak.
The rate of spread of infection in Sweden has been declining for some time: 19 European countries now have higher per capita infection rates. Lena Hallengren says she doesn’t want to speculate on what the big differences are, but she again points out the great change that has occurred in society with hand-held alcohol in stores, distances in cafes and restaurants, and marks on the ground in public .
– It really doesn’t look like it did in February; I may never do it again. I have not visited any other European countries during the pandemic, but we have really changed, I don’t know if they have, says Lena Hallengren.
Read more:
Europe fears a second wave and countries are taking steps to stop the infection
Sweden opposes the growing trend of infection in Europe
