The Swedish Prime Minister tests positive for the coronavirus.
Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson tested positive for the coronavirus last Friday, days after her government introduced new restrictions to curb a fourth wave of cases run by the Omicron variant.
A government press secretary, Darina Agha, said the prime minister was “feeling well given the circumstances” and that she would continue her work while isolating herself at home.
Several other Swedish officials have also tested positive for Covid since they participated in a parliamentary debate on Wednesday. Members of the country’s royal family, including the king, queen and crown princess, were also affected by the virus this month.
The country introduced new rules this week to curb an increase in cases.
From Wednesday, restaurants and bars have been ordered to close at 23.00 and limit the size of the parties to eight people. Restrictions were also introduced for public gatherings and events, including a requirement for a vaccination certificate for those attending events with more than 50 people.
Sweden, which stood out in Europe for its decision not to introduce a lockdown early in the pandemic, now has an average of 22,790 new virus cases per day, according to Our World in Data. Last week, the Swedish Health Agency reported 124,211 cases, more than double compared to the previous week’s figure.