Sweden will introduce new Covid restrictions because Omicron is burdening the health system
Sweden will introduce more measures to stop an increasing number of covid cases that have put pressure on healthcare, said Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson on Monday.
The Scandinavian country has seen its fastest spread of Covid cases in recent weeks as the Omicron variant has increased throughout the country. A record 60,000 cases were discovered last week, despite limited testing opportunities.
“The situation has deteriorated, no doubt. The level of infection in Sweden is at a historically high level,” Andersson said at a press conference.
“Restrictions are not something we introduce lightly and we are aware that the last two years have been an attempt for all of us in Sweden,” she added.
The new measures, which will be introduced on Wednesday, include a mandate to work from home, where possible, and a ceiling on the number of people allowed at large public events.
The restrictions will also see cafes, bars and restaurants hit by a curfew at 11pm with guests allowed groups no larger than eight. Adults are also encouraged to limit contact indoors and universities are encouraged to return to distance education where possible.
The rules are expected to be in place for four weeks but will be evaluated after two weeks.
Still, while the number of infections has skyrocketed, the number of Covid patients in hospitals is well below the peaks seen in previous waves where Stockholm in December 2020 warned that 99 percent of its intensive care beds were full.
At present, more than 1,000 people are treated in Covid hospitals and about 100 of them are in intensive care units.
The strain on healthcare is exacerbated by the spread of other respiratory viruses and staff shortages, says the National Board of Health and Welfare.
The head of the Public Health Agency Karin Tegmark Wise said: “We are in an extreme situation.”
The health authority said on Monday that the peak of the wave will come later than previously expected and that the Omicron variant made the disease more difficult to predict. The previous assessment was a peak in mid-January and then a gradual decline.
The Nordic neighboring countries such as Denmark and Norway introduced strict Covid restrictions last month when Omicron cases increased in the region. Before Christmas, the Danish government closed many public places, including cinemas, theaters and concert halls, while Norway banned the sale of alcohol in licensed premises and forced some bars to close temporarily.
During most of the pandemic, Sweden stood out among European nations for its comparatively practical response. The country never locked up or closed businesses, but instead relied on citizens’ sense of civic duty to control infections. The authorities have emphasized individual responsibility instead of state health measures.
Since the pandemic began, 15,377 people in Sweden have died from Covid.
Additional reporting from authorities