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Corona infection has once again linked the control of western Sweden and a number of measures have been taken to try to prevent the rampant infection.
Västra Götaland has been forced into personal mode and stricter restrictions were introduced on Thursday last week.
The new advice, which applies initially for three weeks, says, among other things, that the public should avoid swimming pools, libraries, stores, shopping malls and similar indoor settings.
The sharp tip:
* One should refrain from staying indoors where many people gather, such as shopping malls, museums, bathrooms, and the like.
* You should also refrain from various meetings such as meetings, concerts, games and sports training. However, the latter does not apply to children and young people born in 2005 and later.
* All activities in the region “must take action” so that the public can easily follow the advice that now applies.
* Employers should take steps to allow employees to follow advice in the event of local corona outbreaks. This can include encouraging staff to work from home, avoiding conferences, and the like.
Source: Västra Götaland region
And avoiding malls is advice Western Swedes seem to follow.
On Tuesday afternoon and during the early hours of the night, the interiors of three of the region’s shopping centers were empty.
Kongahälla Center in Kungälv, Frölunda Torg and Mölndal Galleria.
– It is clear that it feels very boring because we feel we are really on the right track, says Carina Erlandsson, center manager of the relatively new Mölndal Galleria, last week in Mölndals-Posten.
“Trying to do everything we can”
He did not want to speculate on how the new restrictions may affect the mall and stores, but says that this year they have had sales about 10 percent more than last year.
But it is clear that a store has sales and will be out at the end of the year, the store sells suitcases and has done badly during the pandemic.
The Kongahälla Center is also relatively new, and according to the center’s director, Anton Knutsson, the opening hours of the new restrictions will not change and he believes that action has already been taken.
– We remind people to keep their distance by markings on the ground. We have exclamations in different languages on the speakers and information in different languages on our screens. And we have handheld alcohol machines in our driveways, so we try to do our best and be tough, he told Kungälvs-Posten.
“Choose to bike here”
Among the few visitors to Frölunda Torg on Tuesday were Ola Rikner, 57, and Susanne Rikner, 56, who were there to repair a broken cell phone.
– You realize that it must be like that, it has taken so long and you are starting to get tired, it is good that they do something about it. I used to travel to Stockholm every week, but now I only work from home, Ola says of the new restrictions.
– My phone has broken, so you have to go out and fix it. Otherwise we would not have been here. We decided to bike here to avoid public transportation. You have to go out if you have an important matter, otherwise you can give up, says Susanne.
Decisions on the new restrictions were made in consultation between infection control in Västra Götaland and the Swedish Public Health Agency.
– What we need is to break all forms of chains of infection. We have to break that you are infected and pass between them. It is an effective way to break the chains of infection to avoid overcrowding and keep your distance. But after a while we forget about that and get closer and closer at parties and other gatherings and workplaces. Everyone should do everything possible to eliminate the possibility of spreading an infection. We urge people to be very careful and avoid exposure to infection. Clearly a good thing if it continues, says infection control doctor Thomas Wahlberg that Tuesday afternoon there were a shortage of people in shopping malls.
“You feel a little desperate”
Frida Ferngren, 28, was one of those who shopped at Mölndal Galleria. She deliberately chose a late schedule when there are fewer people in circulation.
– It’s okay with the restrictions, I’m starting to be a little more aware again. It feels a bit desperate to go back to that lifestyle again, especially in the fall, in the summer it was not so clearly noticed. I’ve been shopping and it’s good to go here at night when it’s less crowded, he says.
Difficult to judge a second wave
A week is too short a period to see if the new restrictions have taken effect, says Thomas Wahlberg.
– That effect will probably come in a couple of weeks, a few weeks is the earliest you can start to see. It also takes a while from when you get infected until you get sick. It’s too early to say now in this short time, says Thomas Wahlberg, an infection control physician in the region.
In many countries, including Sweden, there has been talk of a second wave of covid-19, is that what we see here now?
– It is very difficult to assess the criteria for a second wave, but clearly we have an increase in infection throughout our region at the moment.
On the same day the restrictions were introduced, another western Swedish shopping center, Torp on the outskirts of Uddevalla, sent massive text messages with offers when they opened their new extension.
– Our public areas have doubled and as visitors you have plenty of room to move. But if you still feel that there are too many people, you should leave the store. We have always encouraged our visitors to follow the recommendations of the Public Health Agency, said Håkan Pekkari, manager of the Top center, who saw no problem with the text message last week.
GT has repeatedly sought center directors for the Kongahälla Center and Mölndal Galleria without success. The director of the Frölunda Torg center has announced that he is on vacation.
Quiz: How do you see the new restrictions?
See also:
General tips that apply where you live
