Nordic countries are planning local outbreaks

Sweden

This is how it has looked so far: Sweden has so far confirmed 84,985 cases of Covid-19 and 5,835 deaths related to the disease. During the spring months, Sweden had a rapid spread of the infection, the worst affected were the nursing homes. The government and the Swedish Public Health Agency were criticized for taking too long to initiate effective sampling. In the Swedish strategy, the key word has been voluntariness and that those who feel sick stay at home. People over 70 have been urged to avoid social contacts. The Swedish line has stood out and created a debate in the outside world.

Current situation: Towards the end of the summer, the spread of the infection has slowed down. In the last week of August, 120 new cases were reported. Stockholm no longer has confirmed cases of corona infection in nursing homes. The pressure on medical and intensive care has lessened. On the other hand, congestion on public transport is reported as many return to schools and workplaces. The Swedish Public Health Agency proposes that the number of participants in seated events can be increased from 50 to 500. The National Board of Health and Welfare estimates that the ban on visiting the elderly may soon be lifted.

Future forecast: The Swedish Public Health Agency does not believe that autumn will mean a second wave of widespread infection; on the other hand, local outbreaks linked to workplaces, towns and meetings. The biggest concern of state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell is that local outbreaks will not be detected quickly enough, so the burden for small regions will be unreasonable for a period. A review of the Swedish strategy gives the Swedish Public Health Agency the opportunity to recommend local restrictions in the event of an outbreak. This may include distance learning at certain universities and senior high schools, quarantine for individuals, and a possible change in the threshold for public gatherings in the Public Order Act.

Finland

This is how it has looked so far: Finland has had a limited number of cases, 8,291, which is one-tenth of those in Sweden. 336 people have died so far. More than 90 percent of the sick have recovered. The number of new infections has been between 22 and 31 per day for the past three to four weeks. The Finnish authorities have been able to make use of emergency laws that can also be used in warfare and have therefore been able to make decisions also in the case of individual municipalities. This has changed for some time and now local authorities have the power to act again and can, for example, close schools or meetings locally or across an entire region. If the health authorities of a city believe they should implement such measures, they can.

Current situation: The situation in the crown is described as calm in Finland. During the previous week, 132 new cases were reported and 187 new cases the previous week. In recent days, no one has been reported death from covid-19. Last week, the Finnish infection control authorities launched an application that works with Bluetooth technology that can warn if someone close to the person develops Covid-19. The Finnish Institute of Health and Welfare, THL, recommends the use of a mask to protect other people in health districts where infection has occurred in the last two weeks. Travelers from Sweden must spend two weeks in quarantine.

Future forecast: Finland is planning local outbreaks, but THL CEO Markku Tervahauta says in an interview with DN that it is currently impossible to predict what will happen to the infection. The number of infected does not appear to be increasing and the number is low.

Denmark

This is how it has looked so far: Since the first case was discovered in Denmark on February 27, there have been 17,547 cases and 173 new ones on Friday. 627 people have died so far as a result of covid-19. In mid-March, the Danish government shut down all unnecessary activities in the country. Among other things, all schools and groups were closed if a maximum of ten people were allowed to gather, pedestrian streets were one-way, and corridors were prohibited from running.

Current situation: Infection is now seen increasing in the Copenhagen area and in Odense and the Danish Health and Medicines Authority writes on its website that the epidemic is not over yet, despite some new infections and some are currently being treated in the intensive care unit. It is mainly young people between 20 and 29 years old who have tested positive. 27 people are treated at the hospital. By Sunday, the number of infected people had risen so much in the Copenhagen municipality that it exceeded the limit of when the Foreign Ministry generally advises against traveling to an area: “If Copenhagen had been a country, the Foreign Ministry would have advised against traveling there and demanded quarantine, “Jyllands-Posten wrote on Sunday.

Future forecast: The National Board of Health writes that there may be an increase in the number of infected as society becomes increasingly open. Therefore, the authority urges the Danes to continue to observe physical distancing, good hygiene and help track those infected. The authority believes that it should be possible to maintain the infection at the current level through these measures.

Norway

This is how it has looked so far: Norway has 11,296 confirmed cases of covid-19 and 264 deaths related to the disease. Unlike Sweden, Norway has managed to prevent a widespread spread of infection in nursing homes. The Norwegian strategy is to track and test the infection and to quarantine and isolate when someone is infected. During the spring, Norway introduced stricter restrictions than Sweden, including closing all schools. Norwegian travel restrictions are governed by the number of people infected per 100,000 inhabitants in Swedish regions. If there are more than 20, the region and countries end up on the red list.

Current situation: Norway opened the border to Sweden and Jämtland and four other regions on Saturday. The spread of the infection has increased slightly after the holidays, now Norway has 30 to 50 new cases per week. There have been several notable eruptions, including aboard one of Hurtigruten’s ships. At the moment 1,100 people are in quarantine in Sarpsborg and Fredrikstad after a religious gathering where 150 people have been infected. In August, recommendations on oral protection were introduced, for example on public transport in Oslo. The number of deaths remains low, one to two a week.

Future forecast: The National Institute of Public Health hopes to increase the number of participants in the meetings. At the moment, 20 people are applying at private events and 200 at public events. During the fall, the National Institute of Public Health hopes to primarily address local outbreaks. It may be necessary to close a class or school, however, there are no plans for stricter measures at the national level. According to the director of infection control, Frode Forland, Norway’s strategy has been successful, but it is important to persevere until there is a vaccine.

Island

This is how it has looked so far: Iceland has so far had 2,141 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 10 deaths. The spread of the infection has always been low and the infection is believed to have entered the country through Icelanders who traveled on ski trips to northern Italy and Austria. Iceland has chosen a line that lies somewhere between Sweden on the one hand and Denmark, Norway and Finland on the other. No schools have been closed, but more strict monitoring of infections has been carried out. The care of the elderly has not been affected.

Current situation: During the weekend, no one was treated for COVID-19 at the hospital, but 375 people were quarantined waiting to travel to the country. Iceland has a mandatory five-day quarantine for those who allow themselves to be tested upon arrival. If you do not agree to this, a 14-day quarantine applies. 88 people sat in isolation after someone in their environment became infected or showed mild symptoms themselves. Anyone traveling by public transport must wear a mouth guard.

Future forecast: Icelandic infection control authorities do not anticipate a significant increase in infection. On Monday restrictions on how many can meet from 100 to 200 will be relaxed. The decision is valid until September 27 and will then be reconsidered. In groups of 200, only adults are counted and not children born in 2005 or later.