[ad_1]
During Black Friday, congestion was reported in various parts of the country. As Christmas approaches, many are concerned about even greater pressure on the shopping streets and in stores. Maria Rotzén Östlund, an assistant physician for infection control in the Stockholm region, called the congestion on Black Friday “incomprehensible” and sees several risks as Christmas shopping intensifies.
– For example, if there is a decoy in a place and there will be a crowd there. In general, we know that you get infected with covid when you stay in often closed rooms for a long time, says Maria Rotzén Östlund to Svenska Dagbladet.
Agnes Wold: Tired of these photos
But not everyone reacted so strongly to the congestion. When Agnes Wold, a professor of clinical bacteriology, received the question from Expressen readers, she pointed out where the risks of infection are really greatest.
– He is so tired of these photos that we will not like it. It is in the coffee room, at the party and at the nice family dinner that we have the wide spread of infection, Wold wrote.
According to a scenario from the Swedish Public Health Agency, the infection may peak in mid-December. The authority has urged people to buy infection-proof, preferably not during peak hours and preferably online with home delivery.
The risk: a super spreader event
But despite the advice, Christmas shopping is expected to get a lot of people together in no time. According to Jan Albert, professor of infection control at the Karolinska Institutet, this can lead to gift-hunting, at worst, becoming a widespread event.
– If we don’t all help reduce congestion, it can drive the spread of infection, Jan Albert tells SvD.
But perhaps it is not shopping and stores that pose the greatest risk of infection, but the coffee break.
– Risk has to do with how close they are to each other for how long and to some extent what they do. A strong exhale means increased risk and then a loud bar environment where you speak loudly can increase the risk, he says.
