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Stefan Löfven: Sweden's Prime Minister rejects a lockdown as "too great a burden" for the population
Photo:
Jessica Gow / AP
The corona numbers are increasing in many European countries.
Sweden is also seeing a sustained increase in new infections.
To counteract this, the government has now announced the most stringent measures taken so far.
From Christmas Eve, a maximum of four people are allowed to sit at a table in restaurants.
In addition, no alcohol may be served after 8 p.m.
Distance learning for secondary schools will also be extended until January 24th.
The imposition of a lockdown, as in numerous other European countries, was rejected by Prime Minister Stefan Löfven as "too great a burden" for the population.
In addition, Löfven asked the Swedes for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic to wear a face mask on public transport.
Failure to comply is not a criminal offense.
Johan Carlson of the health authority warned: "A mouthguard should never be seen as a substitute or an alternative to distancing."
Shopping malls, stores and gyms are encouraged to limit the number of customers in order to avoid crowds.
Museums, libraries, swimming pools and other unnecessary public authorities will remain closed until January 24th.
Löfven also urged his compatriots to limit their social contacts and work from home if possible.
The corona numbers have been skyrocketing since autumn
Sweden has been taking a less restrictive path than most other European countries since the beginning of the corona pandemic and had relied on recommendations for a long time.
In this context, there has long been talk of the Swedish special way in the fight against the pandemic.
Critics accused the authorities of endangering human lives with their strategy.
With their course, the government was initially able to lower the number of infections in the summer.
But the numbers have skyrocketed since autumn.
In response to the increasing number of new infections, the government imposed binding restrictions for the first time in mid-November, including for meetings in public and the sale of alcohol.
Sweden is currently grappling with the second wave of the corona pandemic.
On Friday, health officials recorded 100 deaths related to the virus.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, 7,993 corona deaths have been registered in Sweden.
The country has 10.3 million inhabitants.
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