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From: TT
Published:
February 1 | Photo: Henrik Montgomery / TT
The restaurants around Stureplan in Stockholm on Saturday night.
Even though infection rates are on the rise, people are partying in big cities. In Gothenburg, police are surprised by congestion at restaurants over the weekend, which is the last before restrictions on the sale of alcohol are introduced.
– I’ve been working all weekend and, to my surprise, there are still a lot of people out there, says Christer Fuxborg, press spokesman in the West Police Region.
Slightly fewer people than usual have been to the pub, in his opinion. But it is still too large a part when you look at the exhortations issued by local infection control doctors, the Public Health Agency and the government.
– Now was the last weekend before these alcohol sales restrictions, so that may have been a reason.
On Saturday night, Kungsbacka police were called to a small apartment where there was a house party with about 45 people, most of them under 18 years of age.
– That may be a little dark. Even if a young person is not so severely infected, they can still pass the infection on to others, says Fuxborg.
“Black club closed”
In Västberga, in the south of Stockholm, the police had to intervene on Saturday night against a black club in an industrial premises where hundreds of people had gathered. As the number exceeded the allowed limit of 50, the police dissolved the party.
Police spokeswoman Eva Nilsson says it has been a relatively normal weekend and she has no indication that there were more people, but no fewer. The people TT has spoken to attest to a fairly well-stocked pub atmosphere in central Stockholm.
“We had a large influx of disputes and lawsuits yesterday before I went home,” says Nilsson.
In smaller cities, reports of congestion and noisy pub atmosphere are significantly lower. In the eastern police region, which includes Sörmland and Östergötland, among others, the police have not received any reports of incidents related to restaurants or major events, says Peter Ström, an officer on duty.
“Party for the last time”
In the Bergslagen police region, which consists of Dalarna, Värmland and Örebro, the police took steps to make it a difficult weekend.
– We were probably a little inclined to celebrate one last time before, to go out into the city more, but we did not live it that way. When I have spoken with my external agents, they have experienced that it has been very quiet in the city. It’s been a bit close, but compared to normal weekends, it’s been less, says duty officer Mathilda Borgström.
This spring, Bergslagen police had to help close a restaurant due to congestion and break up public gatherings. But now it has not been needed.
– Then we will see next weekend how it will be. I hope everyone takes responsibility and does their part, says Mathilda Borgström.
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