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Of: Elle kari karlsson, Sophie Stigfur, Johan Gunnarsson
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The mutated corona virus prompted Sweden to introduce a total ban on air traffic from the UK to Sweden.
Something that British Airways broke today, when a passenger plane landed in Arlanda.
29 people on board have been admitted to Sweden, without testing or quarantine requirements.
– We do not understand how this could have happened, says Patrik Engström, head of the border police.
This morning at 10.30am, British Airways landed with a passenger plane at Arlanda. Something that violates the government’s decision to suspend flights between the UK and Sweden, which will reduce the risk of spreading the British mutant infection.
– It seems there has been a misunderstanding. This violates the flight ban, which is absolute. Now there should be no airborne passenger traffic between countries, says Mikael Andersson, press manager for the Swedish Transport Agency.
– We have contacted British Airways, but also the British Civil Aviation Administration. This flight has violated Swedish regulations.
There were 33 passengers on board the London airliner. Of these, 29 were Swedish citizens and four were Finnish citizens who would travel further afield.
When the plane landed, the border police contacted the infection control doctor to report what happened.
– Swedish citizens have the unconditional right to travel to Sweden and were allowed to do so. It is regrettable that there are passengers on this planet. We do not understand how this could have happened, we have been in contact with the Ministry of Infrastructure, as well as with the Swedish Public Health Agency and Transport Agency, says Patrik Engström, head of the border police.
Photo: AFTONBLADET
Stock Photography. A British Airways plane lands in Arlanda on December 17.
They were asked to prove themselves
There was no quarantine for the newly arrived Swedes.
– Infection control could have decided to quarantine them if there was reason to suspect they were sick. But it was judged that it did not exist, there was no other measure than that these people, like everyone else, are encouraged to stay home if they feel sick and that they should be tested.
When the Stockholm Region is asked about the passengers on the plane, the press communicator responds by email: “Infection control Stockholm does not have the authority to stop entry from a geographic area or decide on sanitary control of an area determined “.
Four of the passengers were Finns who were going to stop over to fly to Finland.
– They are covered by the entry ban, but the decision-maker allowed them to travel anyway, mainly because young children were involved, says Patrik Engström in the border police.
Mixed up the rules
The temporary regulations decided by the government appear to have been mixed, according to Mikael Andersson of the Swedish Transport Agency.
One concerns the ban on flights between countries. The second concerns the travel ban from the UK and Denmark to Sweden, with the exception of Swedish citizens.
– You must have misunderstood our instructions. Swedish citizens can travel to Sweden, but not via flights from the UK. Then other means of transport apply or you fly from another country, says Mikael Andersson.
The Swedish Transport Agency has now clarified its instructions and “made sure that the airline knows what applies.”
Mutant infection discovered in Sörmland
Several countries have decided to stop flights from the UK after the virus was found to have mutated to a more contagious variant. However, the infection with mutated corona has spread beyond the country’s borders. Isolated cases have been found in France, Spain and Japan, among others.
Hours earlier, the Swedish Public Health Agency announced that the infection had also entered Sweden. A person who traveled from the UK to celebrate Christmas in Sörmland found himself ill with the new and more contagious virus.
Aftonbladet has applied for British Airways.
Aftonbladet has spoken with the Public Health Agency, which currently has no comment on what happened.
When asked how they should proceed to ensure that the 29 Swedish citizens are examined and traced for infection, the press service says they cannot do anything about it. In addition, the authority refers to the regions, which are responsible for infection control.
When Aftonbladet searches the Stockholm region, they also have no information about what infection tracking and testing should look like for incoming Swedes. They refer to the information on testing available in 1177 and the call from the Public Health Agency for all UK participants to stay home for at least a week, avoid contact with other people and undergo little testing. after arrival with follow-up tests five days after arrival.
The government, through Interior Minister Mikael Damberg, announced the entry ban earlier this week. Mikael Damberg today does not want to comment on the incident, his press secretary announces that it is an official decision and that the regulations still apply.
Photo: Frank Augstein / TT NEWS AGENCY
British Airways.
Photo: Carolina Byrmo
Aftonbladet
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