The Swedish government is introducing tightened measures against the spread of the coronavirus. As of Tuesday next week, a maximum of eight people will be allowed to gather for public meetings and events, as Prime Minister Stefan Löfven announced at a press conference today. This is urgently needed to curb the spread of CoV, while the willingness to comply with the requirements has decreased.
So far, the maximum number of participants for meetings and events in Sweden has been 50 people. For cinemas, concerts, theater and sporting events with certain seating capacities, exceptions of up to 300 participants have been in effect for a few weeks.
„Living in a Time of Trial“
“We live in a time of trial. It will get worse. Do your duty, take your responsibility to stop the spread of the infection, ”Löfven said twice, urgently to his compatriots. Advice and recommendations have come a long way in the spring, but now bans are needed to reduce the number of infected people. Send a clear signal to every Swede, said Löfven.
One should refrain from going to the gym or the library or celebrating parties. Interior Minister Mikael Damberg added that too many people acted as if the danger was over.
In the CoV crisis, Sweden had so far taken a much-noticed special route with comparatively loose measures and appeals to the common sense of the citizens. An amendment to the ordinance for the significant number of participants is now to come into force on November 24th and will apply temporarily for four weeks – and thus until just before Christmas. However, the Swedish government cannot formally prohibit private parties.
