Reuters : Swedish government sharply restricted the number of people gathered on Monday in response to the second wave of Coronavirus pandemic.
At present, the number of new cases in a single day in Sweden continues to set a record, and the pressure on hospitals is increasing.
Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven announced that the Swedish people did not adhere to the government’s recommendations to prevent Coronavirus as in the spring. Public gatherings will now be limited to 8 people, which is significantly lower than the previous 300 people limit. This move was interpreted by some media as a 180-degree turn in Sweden’s gentle attitude towards Coronavirus pandemic.
Levin said at the press conference: “This is the new normal for the entire society. Don’t go to the gym, don’t go to the library, don’t hold a dinner party. Cancel.”
The report pointed out that Coronavirus pandemic in Sweden was several weeks later than most countries in continental Europe, but since the beginning of this month, the number of new cases has surged, and the number of hospitalizations in intensive care units and general wards has also been rising.
The single-day death toll in Sweden slowed to single digits during the long calm period of summer, and many Swedes began to live more normal lives. However, the number of deaths in a single day has risen recently.
The Swedish Interior Minister Mikael Damberg said that the new gathering limit-well below the 50 allowed at the peak of the outbreak in the spring-will be implemented for four weeks and may be extended until Christmas and New Year holidays.
According to the report, Sweden has received international attention for its response to Coronavirus pandemic, which is different from other places. Although the pandemic is getting more and more serious, Sweden has not taken measures to block and widely use masks before, but mainly relies on the people’s willingness.
It is reported that since the beginning of the pandemic, more than 6,000 people in Sweden have died of Coronavirus. The death rate is several times higher than that of neighboring countries in Northern Europe, but slightly lower than that of major European countries such as Spain.
The latest data released by the Swedish Public Health Agency on Friday showed that there were 177,355 confirmed cases of Coronavirus pandemic in Sweden and 6,164 deaths.
Levin said: “We don’t believe in a total lockdown. We believe that the measures we have taken… are appropriate.”
