From March, people aged over 70 or in risk groups have been advised to avoid all close contact with people outside their households, including avoiding going to shops, supermarkets, and other places with large numbers of people.
Now these specific recommendations will be removed. Instead, everyone in the population including the over-70s will be following the national recommendations which have been in place since March.
This means over-70s are no longer advised against going to shops or having close contact with others, but all age groups are still required to keep a distance from other people in public places, avoiding large gatherings, and staying at home when showing any symptoms.
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He stressed the importance of all age groups continuing to follow the existing measures in order to protect the most vulnerable groups long-term.
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“The group has taken the recommendations from spring seriously, the result is that the rate of illness has reduced and fewer have been admitted to intensive care. A large number of lives have been saved, but it is not reasonable that a risk group should carry such a large responsibility in the long run,” said Carlson.
“It is not the case that elderly people should start taking the bus as normal. Everyone should act with great care, you shouldn't go out and crowd in shops unnecessarily, you should avoid rush hour. There will be a risk for individuals. We will see that a few people will get sick, but we have to find a balance,” he said.
The decision was made based on international research and Swedish epidemiological data, data from the 1177 healthcare service, and speaking to pensioners' and immigrants' organisations, according to the Public Health Agency.
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