More than 8,000 dead: infection is increasing in Sweden



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On Tuesday, 174 deaths with covid-19 were reported in Sweden.

A total of 8,167 infected people have died in the country.

A total of 389,439 people in Sweden have been confirmed to be infected with covid-19. Right now, disease cases appear to be increasing rather than decreasing.

– We have a large number of new cases, it is still a serious situation in Sweden. We do not see a decrease at the national level, but an increase. We have not been able to see any increase in the number of VAT cases, but there is a lag in the statistics, Karin Tegmark Wisell, department head of the Swedish Public Health Agency, said at Tuesday’s press conference.

Tegmark Wisell: Can’t Stop Mutated Virus

This weekend it became known that a mutated variant of the coronavirus was found in the United Kingdom. The variant is said to be up to 70 percent more contagious than the previously common variant.

The Public Health Agency urges visitors from the UK to stay home for at least seven days, avoid contact with other people as much as possible, and get tested as soon as possible after arrival in Sweden and have another one test after five days.

The authority has also supported the government’s decision to severely restrict opportunities to travel to Sweden from the UK and Denmark, where the virus variant has also been found.

At the press conference, Vetenskapsradion asked if it is a new attitude for the Swedish Public Health Agency to introduce measures before it is fully demonstrated that the new variant is more contagious.

But according to Karin Tegmark Wisell, this is not a new attitude:

– They are temporary measures to save time, and in a situation in which we have vaccines at hand. We do not believe, if it is now the case that it has 70 percent more infectivity, than has been reported, that it will be possible to contain the spread of this variant. But in this situation, we consider it important to do everything possible to contain ourselves.

It is very likely that the new variant of the virus is actually more contagious, according to Karin Tegmark Wisell.

– The UK has made it very clear that this is the case. So even if we don’t have the definitive evidence we are in a critical situation now and there is a lot of evidence from the UK that it has higher infectivity. Then we buy time.

Stricter commercial advice goes into effect

Starting Wednesday, a special housing restriction order will be introduced in 29 Swedish municipalities. The ban applies until January 12.

Starting on Wednesday, stores, shopping centers and training facilities are also asked to decide the maximum number of people who can stay in the facilities at the same time.

– We have had a close dialogue with Swedish Trade and the owners. It is important to remember that many are very well behaved and have safe environments. But we think these stricter advice may have an additional dampening effect on the spread of infection in the critical situation we find ourselves in before the weekends, state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell says in a press release.

Systembolaget is open

The Swedish Public Health Agency has also made a strong appeal to the trade not to have a physical sale at noon this year. After dialogue with the Swedish Public Health Agency, the Swedish business has stated that it is not forbidden to have a sale at noon, but it must be done safely.

Last week, the Swedish Public Health Agency recommended that municipalities and regions Immediately close all activities to which the public has access and that are not necessary ”. However, Systembolaget, which is a state-owned company, is open as usual.

– We have not commented on this issue, but what we believe is that it is a workplace and, like all other workplaces, you have to consider: how do you ensure the work environment for your employees? Then there is also a trading post. The recommendations that exist are to ensure infection-free trade takes place, says Karin Tegmark Wisell.

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