Sweden Lifts Covid Restrictions With Pandemic in ‘New Phase’

(Bloomberg) -- Sweden is scrapping its Covid-19 restrictions from next week citing a higher rate of vaccinations and a manageable situation in hospitals despite what it calls a massive increase in transmission.

“It's time to open up Sweden again,” said Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson at a press conference in Stockholm.

The latest easing harks back to the onset of the pandemic when Sweden found itself in the international spotlight from a lockdown strategy that was softer than most other countries. That coincided with a higher death rate early on during the crisis and prompted fierce criticism of both the Swedish health agency and government led by then premier Stefan Lofven.

The number of Covid-related deaths currently totals 16,028 in Sweden, dwarfing the 3,815 registered in neighboring Denmark and 1,457 in Norway.

Since then, Sweden has largely fallen into line with other countries by imposing restrictions on gatherings, requesting the use of vaccine certificates and recommending face masks at busy times on public transport.

Now, the biggest Nordic nation joins a growing list of European countries, including Italy, Switzerland and France, as well as neighbors Denmark, Finland and Norway, to relax rules under pressure from a pandemic-weary public.

Under current rules in Sweden, public outdoors events have been capped at 500 participants, and bars and restaurants needed to close no later than 11 p.m. That will all end from next Wednesday. 

“The pandemic is not over, but it's on its way into a brand new phase,” Andersson said.

Read More: Europe Accelerates Move to Pandemic Exit as Risk Alert Fades

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