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From April 1 to September 30, a national restraining order was applied to nursing homes across the country. On October 1, the government lifted the ban, but when the infection increased dramatically, on November 19, the government tasked the Public Health Agency with granting local, regional or national bans, a system that is not yet in place.
November 11 elected The city of Stockholm will introduce a curfew on its own, just as it did in the spring. But on Monday came the ruling of the Administrative Court: the capital’s decision violates Swedish law. The city of Stockholm has now reviewed its decision on several points.
– We make it clear that it is a clear recommendation for our businesses to be restrictive with visits. But exceptions are possible, for example for spouse or visitation at the end of life or in special cases, says Finance Counselor Anna König Jerlmyr (M).
The Health and Care Inspection, Ivo, will now begin an inspection of municipalities that have introduced their own prohibitions, and therefore violated the law.
– Even before the ruling of the Administrative Court, it was clear that it is not a right that municipalities have. It is an exclusive right granted by the government to the Public Health Agency, says Linda Almqvist, Ivo’s General Counsel.
An inspection can lead to a municipality that has violated the law being fined “probably in the millions, according to Almqvist.
– We must not forget that these are important restrictions in people’s lives. A restraining order issued by a municipality constitutes an unauthorized interference with the right to private and family life. Appropriate measures must also have been taken before the Swedish Public Health Agency can grant a request.
Stockholm Finance Council Anna König Jerlmyr reacts strongly when she finds out about Ivo’s supervision.
– You can almost call it activism. What is a human life worth? You still have to wonder why we do this.
The city of Stockholm knew it was moving into the “gray area of the law”, but it still did not want to wait for the authorities.
– We saw that the infection increased in our homes and today we know that people can carry the infection without having symptoms. As there is no access to reliable rapid tests, we believe that we must take the safe before the insecure and impose restrictions on how many people can move through our houses. For us, it’s about saving lives, he says.
However, according to the Swedish Public Health Agency Visitors are not seen to be responsible for most of the spread of infection, but rather point to employees.
– I can say that Anders Tegnell and the Public Health Agency often speculate. They are no longer completely familiar with how Swedish elderly care works, says König Jerlmyr.
She is very critical of what she calls a delay from the Public Health Agency.
– Even though they have had 12 days since they received the government assignment, there is still no clear process for us to introduce local restrictions, he says.
The authority is still working on the issue and will return at the end of the week.
“The referral is scheduled during the week,” writes the press service of the Public Health Agency in an email to DN.
According to state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell For example, four or five municipalities have responded with a request to enter a restraining order and have been asked to supplement their requests. The city of Stockholm is not one of them, Tegnell said at Tuesday’s press conference.
According to Anna König Jerlmyr, the municipality has contacted the authority through infection control to find out what applies, without receiving any information. No later than yesterday, the municipality must have sent an email to the authority directly.
Another municipality that also decided to introduce a visitor ban in November is Växjö. According to the president of the municipal board, Anna Tenje (M), they have repeatedly contacted the Swedish Public Health Agency to introduce a local ban through infection control in the region.
– We have received the response that they cannot provide information until their guidelines are completed and that we will then have to supplement our request.
That the municipality now risks millions of whites shocks Anna Tenje.
– Wanting to create municipalities that try to protect the elderly when we are in the middle of a pandemic is remarkable. So for the love of God, the Public Health Agency makes sure to expedite the government’s decision so we don’t have to break the law, he says.
