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“He has made great sacrifices”
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For seven months, people over the age of 70 have been told to stay home.
But now restrictions are being lifted for the elderly and risk groups in Sweden.
– It is not reasonable for a group to assume the great responsibility, says the Minister of Social Affairs Lena Hallengren (S).
Since March 16, the elderly and those at risk in Sweden have lived in much stricter conditions than others. The public health authority then came out with a strong call for everyone over 70 to stay home and not even go out the door to buy food.
The isolation has been described as unfair and unhealthy. An irritation that has grown as it becomes increasingly clear that the pandemic is far from over.
During a press conference, the Minister of Social Affairs, Lena Hallengren, announces that the special recommendations for people over 70 years of age are being removed.
– They have made great sacrifices. Older people and people from other risk groups should be covered by the same recommendations as the rest of the population. This basically means that everyone in Sweden has the same responsibility, says Hallengren.
Limit physical contact and preferably don’t know anyone. Avoid all public transportation and all places where a lot of people gather. Don’t go to the store. These are some of the severe life restrictions that the nation’s older adults, as well as people in risk groups, have lived with for seven months.
“Finally!”
The consequence has been an increase in mental illness, reflected in the increase in phone calls to suicide lines, according to the Swedish Public Health Agency.
– The psychological consequences are significant for those who have remained isolated and the risk of worsening if prolonged. Earlier this spring, we said that the group should avoid physical contact with others and we can see that it has been followed very well, morbidity has decreased and there are fewer intensive care units. A large number of lives have been saved thanks to this group, says Johan Carlsson, Director General of the Swedish Public Health Agency.
The decision is a message of joy, according to 87-year-old Barbro Westerholm, president of the Swedish Pensioners Association and member of the Liberal Parliament.
– Finally! Now we can live like everyone else in society. We should all take this pandemic seriously, but we have never wanted to be treated differently, he tells Swedish Radio.
“He has been flagged as weak”
As early as May, the Swedish Public Health Agency noted that restrictions for older people and risk groups could be eased. However, that did not happen.
Ingmar Skoog, an elderly researcher, thinks the message should have arrived by then, but welcomes the relief.
– It is very good because many measures are very bad. It is also good that you dare to change wrong decisions. The group has been singled out as insensitive and powerless, as if they couldn’t fend for themselves and would collapse if you blow them roughly, he says.
More will get sick
The spread of the infection in Sweden continues to increase, albeit at a slower rate. The Minister of Social Affairs Hallengren (S), the Swedish Public Health Agency and the elderly researcher Skoog therefore emphasize the importance of now all being even more careful in following general advice.
The Swedish Public Health Agency does not believe the decision will increase pressure on medical care.
– This is a group that has assumed great responsibility and will continue to do so. But there will be a greater risk for people. We will see that more people get sick, we cannot help it. But we need long-term measures to be met, otherwise people will not be able to follow this, says CEO Johan Carlson.
Photo: Anders Wiklund / TT NYHETSBYRÅN
Social Affairs Minister Lena Hallengren and Johan Carlsson, Director General of the Swedish Public Health Agency, at today’s press conference.
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