It is difficult to follow the new local advice in Uppsala

Of: Anna Sjögren

Published: October 24, 2020 at 7:14 pm
Updated: October 24, 2020 at 7:29 pm

UPPSALA. Avoid public transportation, work from home, and only spend time at home. This is the local council for Uppsala affected by the crown.

However, according to residents, they haven’t had a particularly large effect on congestion and human behavior.

– They don’t make any sense, says Arash Samaditari, 38, from Uppsala.

It’s Saturday afternoon and the parking lot in front of the Gränbystaden shopping center is almost full.

Last week’s alarm reports of rampant infection in fully occupied intensive care units in Uppsala have not deterred many from going here for weekend shopping, says Anna Nasir, 47.

– There are as many people as ever. When we had a peak last spring, it was completely empty here. It’s a little scary to relax now, he says.

Photo: Patrik Lundin

Anna Nasir, 47, believes that the wide spread of the infection in Uppsala is partly due to the fact that it is a student town with a young population and lots of parties.

A student town with many young people and many parties, she believes that it is an explanation for the take-off of the crown in Uppsala. But the worst thing about keeping your distance is the people in the supermarkets.

– When you stand at the freezer counter, someone comes in and smells cheap bacon, then I try to walk away, she says.

“It’s as crowded as usual on the bus”

This week, new local councils were introduced for the region. They mean, among other things, that everyone should avoid public transportation, that whoever can should work from home, and that they should only socialize within the home.

Arash Samaditari, 38, believes the new advice is “completely meaningless” and impossible for many to follow.

– I’m a teacher and I can’t work from home. I have to take a bus to go to work where I have contact with 500 students.

That now more people would work from home, he has not realized on his bus line.

– Nobody travels by bus because it is fun, those of us who travel are obliged to do so. It is as crowded as usual. They should put more buses, he says.

“I have antibodies”

Under the new advice, stores have a greater responsibility to ensure that congestion does not occur. This weekend, the mall has been reinforced with additional security guards.

One of them is Jasmin Farhat.

– From a distance, thanks, I usually say. If you have a uniform, people listen, for store personnel or individuals it is more difficult, he says.

Several Uppsala residents Aftonbladet speaks to have heard of the plight of the crown, but are unaware of the new city councils.

One of them is Pål Öhman, 40. You are also not very concerned about getting infected or contributing to the spread.

– I was completely spat on last spring, I became a virologist. But we were sick in June and we have antibodies, so now I’m calmer, he says.

He realizes that many in the area take the crown seriously, not least because several friends cancel their parties.

Checks without notice in the restaurant

The new tips encourage companies to let employees work from home. Axel Hedblom, 19, was sent home this week. He closely follows the new advice and recites it for Aftonbladet in Stortorget.

– I work from home and live downtown so I can walk everywhere.

During the weekend, the municipality will conduct unannounced inspections of restaurants and restaurants. And that part of the pandemic restrictions is the hardest for people, Axel thinks.

– The most difficult thing for people is social. Not meeting friends and not going out to a restaurant and having fun together, I think.

Uppsala is the first in Sweden to introduce special local councils. These are valid for two weeks. Depending on how the infection develops, the decision is made as to whether they should spread.

Published: October 24, 2020 at 7:14 pm