Coronavirus in Sweden: The phone numbers and websites you need to know about
If you feel unwell or have questions about the coronavirus situation, there is no need to feel alone. Here's a look at the websites and phone numbers that are available for people in Sweden.
If you need medical help
If you have cold- or flu-like symptoms but are not seriously ill, health authorities have asked you to stay at home until after you have been completely free of symptoms for at least two days.
Many of those who get infected with the coronavirus will be able to treat it at home, and if you are not in a risk group and not seriously ill, be aware that the healthcare phonelines are currently extremely busy.
Online self-assessment tests are available at 1177 Vårdguiden and Stockholm region. These are currently only available in Swedish (but you can try an in-browser translation app).
If your symptoms get worse, you should contact doctors by phone. Stockholm's healthcare guide gives the following recommendation: Call 1177 if your condition worsens greatly or if you develop breathing difficulties even when at rest. A nurse will then guide you to the appropriate care at the appropriate place. Always call 112 for life-threatening conditions.
You can find advice on how you can avoid spreading the infection to others on the websites of the Public Health Agency (in English), the World Health Organisation, and the European Centre for Disease Control.
1177 also directs non-Swedish speakers living in the Stockholm region to the following phonelines for free healthcare advice:
If you speak Arabic, you can call 08-123 130 80 every day between 8am-10pm.
If you speak Somali, you can call 08-123 130 90 on weekdays between 8am-5pm.
If you speak Persian, you can call 08-123 130 87 on weekdays between 8am-5pm.
If you're in a risk group
Find information about what people aged over 70 should do on the Public Health Agency's website.
The Public Health Agency also refers to a helpline specifically for older people: call +46 (0)20-22 22 33 on weekdays between 8am-7pm or on weekends between 10am-4pm. This is for if you're feeling worried; if you're experiencing symptoms and need medical advice, you should refer to the section above.
If you want general information
KrisInformation is a service collecting information around crises from Swedish authorities, and has a section dedicated to the coronavirus.
The Public Health Agency publishes new figures regarding the number of cases, deaths, and intensive care patients linked to the coronavirus each afternoon around 2pm (in Swedish only; click the link saying 'Statistik'). You'll also find breakdowns by age and region, and they have an English-language Q&A about the coronavirus.
Find all of The Local's coverage of the coronavirus outbreak in Sweden here.
If you have general questions about the virus and can't find the answers in these places, there's also a helpline you can call: 113 13.
If your children, or children you work with, want to talk about the coronavirus, Save the Children has information for children and caregivers on its website in several languages.
Or to speak Arabic, Somali, Persian, Russian, or Tigrinya/Amharic, you can also call 08-123 680 00 between 9am-12 and 1-3pm on weekdays. This phoneline is staffed by healthcare communicators at Stockholm's Transcultural Centre and is for general questions, not medical advice.
If you're worried and want someone to chat to, the Red Cross has opened a support line for people experiencing stress and worry related to the outbreak. You can call 0771-900 800 on weekdays between 12-4pm.
You can find out about measures introduced by the Swedish government in response to the coronavirus crisis in English on the government website here.
Find the latest information from the Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan), for example in relation to sick pay and childcare benefit changes, here.
Find out about your consumer rights in Sweden, for example if you want a refund due to a cancelled trip or event, from consumer organisation Hallå Konsument.
If you want to help others
Here are the links to register your interest in helping out in the healthcare system in Sweden's three largest regions:
The Red Cross is also recruiting for volunteers, for example to carry out phonecalls with people in risk groups who may be experiencing isolation, or to collect groceries or medicines with people unable to go out.
And at The Local we've also been gathering detailed information on how you can help others, from assisting elderly neighbours and friends to supporting struggling small businesses. The three articles below contain information:
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If you need medical help
If you have cold- or flu-like symptoms but are not seriously ill, health authorities have asked you to stay at home until after you have been completely free of symptoms for at least two days.
Many of those who get infected with the coronavirus will be able to treat it at home, and if you are not in a risk group and not seriously ill, be aware that the healthcare phonelines are currently extremely busy.
Online self-assessment tests are available at 1177 Vårdguiden and Stockholm region. These are currently only available in Swedish (but you can try an in-browser translation app).
If your symptoms get worse, you should contact doctors by phone. Stockholm's healthcare guide gives the following recommendation: Call 1177 if your condition worsens greatly or if you develop breathing difficulties even when at rest. A nurse will then guide you to the appropriate care at the appropriate place. Always call 112 for life-threatening conditions.
You can find advice on how you can avoid spreading the infection to others on the websites of the Public Health Agency (in English), the World Health Organisation, and the European Centre for Disease Control.
1177 also directs non-Swedish speakers living in the Stockholm region to the following phonelines for free healthcare advice:
If you speak Arabic, you can call 08-123 130 80 every day between 8am-10pm.
If you speak Somali, you can call 08-123 130 90 on weekdays between 8am-5pm.
If you speak Persian, you can call 08-123 130 87 on weekdays between 8am-5pm.
If you're in a risk group
Find information about what people aged over 70 should do on the Public Health Agency's website.
The Public Health Agency also refers to a helpline specifically for older people: call +46 (0)20-22 22 33 on weekdays between 8am-7pm or on weekends between 10am-4pm. This is for if you're feeling worried; if you're experiencing symptoms and need medical advice, you should refer to the section above.
If you want general information
KrisInformation is a service collecting information around crises from Swedish authorities, and has a section dedicated to the coronavirus.
The Public Health Agency publishes new figures regarding the number of cases, deaths, and intensive care patients linked to the coronavirus each afternoon around 2pm (in Swedish only; click the link saying 'Statistik'). You'll also find breakdowns by age and region, and they have an English-language Q&A about the coronavirus.
Find all of The Local's coverage of the coronavirus outbreak in Sweden here.
If you have general questions about the virus and can't find the answers in these places, there's also a helpline you can call: 113 13.
If your children, or children you work with, want to talk about the coronavirus, Save the Children has information for children and caregivers on its website in several languages.
Or to speak Arabic, Somali, Persian, Russian, or Tigrinya/Amharic, you can also call 08-123 680 00 between 9am-12 and 1-3pm on weekdays. This phoneline is staffed by healthcare communicators at Stockholm's Transcultural Centre and is for general questions, not medical advice.
If you're worried and want someone to chat to, the Red Cross has opened a support line for people experiencing stress and worry related to the outbreak. You can call 0771-900 800 on weekdays between 12-4pm.
You can find out about measures introduced by the Swedish government in response to the coronavirus crisis in English on the government website here.
Find the latest information from the Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan), for example in relation to sick pay and childcare benefit changes, here.
Find out about your consumer rights in Sweden, for example if you want a refund due to a cancelled trip or event, from consumer organisation Hallå Konsument.
If you want to help others
Here are the links to register your interest in helping out in the healthcare system in Sweden's three largest regions:
The Red Cross is also recruiting for volunteers, for example to carry out phonecalls with people in risk groups who may be experiencing isolation, or to collect groceries or medicines with people unable to go out.
And at The Local we've also been gathering detailed information on how you can help others, from assisting elderly neighbours and friends to supporting struggling small businesses. The three articles below contain information:
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