[ad_1]
With great seriousness in their voices, Prime Minister Stefan Löfven and Social Affairs Minister Lena Hallengren have urged all Swedes to follow the recommendations of the Swedish Public Health Agency to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
When it comes to recommendations that the EU has for member states, the approach is more flexible. Compared to the rest of Europe, Sweden stands out, especially the oral protection requirements.
In almost all Member States, it is mandatory to wear mouth guards in crowded places such as public transport, shops, schools and the like. Individual countries and regions that do not have this requirement, such as Estonia, have a strong recommendation in place. Others, like France, also require mouth protection outdoors.
Countries follow the guidelines of the European Agency for the Control of Communicable Diseases, ECDC. They include:
– mouth guards in places where physical distance cannot be guaranteed, both indoors and outdoors, as well as for all people at risk.
– limit the number of people who can hang out at the same time.
– work from home whenever possible.
– close certain companies.
On the other hand, the ECDC does not recommend closing schools, except in emergencies, since it affects the education of young people, families and finances, while those under 18 years of age are not the main propagators.
Besides recommending The countries of the EU Commission to coordinate their efforts against the crown. One example is that mobile applications used for infection tracking should work across land borders. The Commission calls on all countries to develop such applications.
There are tracking applications in 19 Member States and several are planning to develop them. Only four countries have no plans: Sweden, Bulgaria, Luxembourg and Romania.
Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin wants EU countries to speed up the development of applications to track the spread of the infection.
Photo: Claudio Bresciani / TT
The effectiveness of tracking apps is questionable, in part because so few download them. But in a debate article on the Politico site, Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin calls for a common EU strategy to combat the crown, stressing that countries must speed up app development.
Read more: Finland starts tracking infections through the app
Sweden stands out like this between the EU Member States. The country is less inclined to follow the EU’s recommendations to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. As these are precisely recommendations, the EU has no coercive measures to take against Sweden.
– Our recommendations follow scientific advice and we are strong advocates for compliance. Of course, each member state must adapt its measures depending on the epidemiological situation of the country, says the spokesman for the EU Commission, Stefan de Keersmaecker.
Even if each country chooses the path that is best suited to the spread of the infection, the Commission sees a danger if measures are extended too far.
– May create problems at EU level. If one country is extremely strict and another country is not at all, there is of course the risk that the virus will return, says de Keersmaecker.
Health policy is established at the national level. However, the European Commission recently put forward a proposal to create a “health union”. It does not change the basic conditions, but would give, for example, greater powers to the ECDC infection control authority.
– But everything must continue to take place within the framework of the basic EU treaty. Even during a health union we could not tell Sweden, Malta, Belgium or Hungary that you have to do this or that. You should wear mouth guards, exemplifies Stefan from Keersmaecker.
Minister of Social Affairs Lena Hallengren.
Photo: Magnus Hallgren
From the Swedish government before the Minister of Social Affairs Lena Hallengren who does not have time for an interview with DN. However, answer written questions.
Why does Sweden not follow the recommendation of the EU Commission and the ECDC to wear mouth guards when congestion cannot be avoided?
– The use of oral protection is not a political decision, but should be subject to evaluations by, for example, infection control and expert authority.
Why isn’t Sweden following the EU call to develop a tracking app?
– Already today, several digital tools are used to counteract the spread of COVID-19, such as digital self-assessment of health conditions, digital care visits and the opportunity to request COVID-19 tests from home.
In the email, Lena Hallengren writes that when it comes to specific infection tracking apps, there are different experiences of use in different countries.
In this context, earlier this fall the government tasked the e-health authority and the public health authority with mapping out how digital support can strengthen and simplify infection control work in Sweden and Europe. The assignment will be reported in April. Of course, the government is optimistic about using effective digital tools for infection tracking.
What risks do you see that the spread of infection cannot be effectively combated at EU level when a country like Sweden has such a different strategy compared to the rest of the EU?
– The differences should not be exaggerated. The basis of all strategies is the same: keep your distance, wash your hands frequently, reduce physical contact with others, stay home in case of illness. So how countries work, with tips or bans, depends on the local context. The biggest difference until this fall has been that Sweden kept primary schools open. Now, more and more countries are doing the same assessment.
He has urged the people of Sweden to follow the recommendations of the Government and the Public Health Agency. Doesn’t that warning ring hollow when Sweden takes such a flexible approach to EU recommendations?
– The government urges the population to follow the recommendations of the Swedish Public Health Agency. The Swedish Public Health Agency is the national infection control authority of Sweden. We are positive about EU cooperation and at the same time, each country must act on the basis of local conditions, writes Lena Hallengren.
Read more: Sweden’s tighter restrictions provoke reactions in Germany
Read more: Thousands in demonstration against coronary restrictions in Berlin
