[ad_1]
After the man left for Sweden to celebrate Christmas with the family in Sörmland, he began to feel bad.
– The person became ill with body aches and extreme fatigue. A real pain that led to sampling, says infection control doctor Signar Mäkitalo during a press conference with the Swedish Public Health Agency.
Tested positive on December 20
The man tested positive for coronavirus on December 20 and on the second day, after a more detailed analysis, infection control and the Public Health Agency were able to confirm that it is the dreaded mutated British virus strain that has led Sweden to introduce entry bans and flight bans from the UK.
An apparently more contagious strain of virus are the previously known variants.
The man must have been extremely careful during the trip to Sweden and is now in quarantine.
– Meanwhile, we have sampled others in the infected person’s home, who have tested negative. But we’ll keep testing, says Signar Mäkitalo.
The man must have been careful: the risk of infection is considered low
Screening for infections has shown that the risk of infecting other people is low. Signar Mäkitalo says the man took precautionary measures with an open mouth visor and windshield in the large car that brought him to the home in Sörmland.
– The person has been extremely careful and has avoided contact with other people. He was in a big car in the back and had all the windows open. They have tried to avoid infecting others, although they had no symptoms when they arrived in Sweden.
– My assessment is that the risk of infection is extremely low, if there is one, says Signar Mäkitalo.
The Public Health Agency believes it was not unexpected that the British virus appeared in Sweden.
– We have tightened surveillance because of this. We collect samples from everyone who has been to the UK since October, says Sara Byfors, unit manager for the Swedish Public Health Agency.
Call for the UK Travel Health Agency
The call from the Public Health Agency to all who stay in the UK after 12 December is to stay home for at least a week, to avoid contact with other people as much as possible and to get tested. ASAP, and then do a follow-up test after five days. The rest of the family should also stay home awaiting test results, according to the Swedish Public Health Agency.
– This is a first unique case, it does not say anything in this situation if the variant had been extended. We continue with the expanded analyzes to see if we can find more cases. But I want to emphasize that it is important for everyone to follow the advice and recommendations we have to reduce the spread of covid-19 in society, says Sara Byfors, unit manager for the Swedish Public Health Agency.
