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At Saturday’s press conference, state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell warned that the spread of the infection could gain even more momentum after the Christmas holidays.
– We see in other countries that had a peak in autumn much earlier than in Sweden that it fell a lot and that it is now starting to rise again. And Sweden has followed the development of the other countries, says Anders Tegnell.
The fact that other COVID-19-like viruses tend to have a greater spread of infection after the Christmas holidays is another factor pointing to the risks that the spread is at risk of receiving a new boost.
– When we return to work after weekends, it will be very important that we follow the current recommendations even more closely. Obviously there is a great risk of a new wave of spread of the infection, very different things indicate this, and then it is above all the workplaces in which we must try to work to get as far away as possible. This is where the wide spread of the infection takes place and we should be able to do something about it.
It reserves because the latest data is difficult to assess, partly because there is an extra long delay in reporting and partly because people have been tested less during Christmas and New Years. The death toll is very likely to be high in the next two weeks.
– This development shows even more clearly that this pandemic is not over, there are new surprises all the time. Therefore, it is very important that we follow the basic recommendations of staying home if you are sick, keeping your distance, good hand hygiene, working from home, and testing for symptoms, says Anders Tegnell.
During the first weeks of the spring semester, the nation’s upper secondary schools will continue the distance education that began before Christmas. Currently, high school students must be home by January 24. However, according to the national recommendations of the National Health Authorities, upper secondary students should return to teaching on site when the Christmas holidays are over.
The spread of the infection in Sweden has been high for many weeks in a row and many new restrictions were introduced during the fall, such as a ban on selling alcohol after 8pm, restrictions on public gatherings and stricter national general councils.
Do you think the public will be able to absorb another message that it is very important to follow the recommendations?
– I really hope so, and now there are many reasons to do so. We have had a very rough autumn and healthcare is really on its knees. Also, we see that there is now a vaccine and we will not have to put up with much longer, with these extensive restrictions. So I hope you can take a deep breath and fight some more, says Anders Tegnell.
Thomas Lindén, Chief Physician and head of department of the National Board of Health and Welfare, says that two more regions, now a total of five, have activated the crisis agreement, which is a tool to, among other things, deal with staff shortages. Therefore, he appeals to the public’s consideration and compassion to continue to refrain from travel, shopping, parties, and other contexts in which he encounters multiple people indoors.
– Each new infection poses a challenge for healthcare and any healthcare personnel unable to go to work due to an infection reduces our ability to help those in need. We can all help healthcare address this if, instead of finding loopholes in regulations, we follow the spirit in them, says Thomas Lindén.
MSB Strategic Advisor Svante Werger concluded Saturday’s press conference by stating that New Year’s celebrations in many parts of the country turned chaotic with huge crowds that from an infection control standpoint should not take place. During the pandemic, these types of meetings several times, both in Sweden and abroad, in a couple of weeks proved to be occasions of wide spread.
