IN BRIEF: These are Sweden's seven new coronavirus measures
Sweden is rolling out a series of new recommendations and restrictions to curb the coronavirus outbreak. Here's the full list.
1. No sale of alcohol after 8pm
Bars and restaurants won't be allowed to serve alcohol after 8pm. This ban will come into force on Christmas Eve, December 24th (the previous rule banned all alcohol sales after 10pm).
2. Rule-of-four in restaurants
The Public Health Agency will lower the number of people allowed in the same group at restaurants from eight to four. This decision will come into force on Christmas Eve.
3. Cap on number of people in shops
The Public Health Agency will instruct shopping centres, shops and gyms to identify a maximum limit on the number of customers allowed in the shop at the same time. It is also urging stores to implement more measures to cut crowding and not actively try to attract shoppers by organising post-Christmas sales in physical stores.
4. Online teaching to continue for over-16s
The Public Health Agency's recommendation to upper secondary schools (gymnasieskolor) to move teaching online will be extended to January 24th. This decision was reinstated in December after these schools closed in spring, then reopened in autumn.
5. Non-essential public services told to close
All non-essential public services run by the state, regions and municipalities should close with immediate effect on the government's urging. This includes for example swimming pools, libraries and museums, and applies until January 24th.
6. Face masks on public transport
The Public Health Agency will issue recommendations for face masks at certain times on public transport. These guidelines will state what times and what kind of masks are recommended, and will be issued before many return to work on January 7th after the Christmas holidays. Public transport operators will be told to inform travellers of the guidelines and be able to provide free face masks to passengers who don't have them.
7. Everyone who can should work from home
People are already advised to work from home if the nature of their work allows, but the government reiterated this and strengthened its tone to emphasise that "everyone who can work from home should work from home". This applies to all employers, both in the private and public sector.
Everyone in Sweden is still expected to follow the coronavirus recommendations that are already in place, such as socially distancing, avoiding public transport if possible, and meeting as few people as possible. Read more about those recommendations here. To keep up with the recommendations, you can also follow The Local's paywall-free blog, and the Krisinformation website for urgent information from Swedish authorities.
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1. No sale of alcohol after 8pm
Bars and restaurants won't be allowed to serve alcohol after 8pm. This ban will come into force on Christmas Eve, December 24th (the previous rule banned all alcohol sales after 10pm).
2. Rule-of-four in restaurants
The Public Health Agency will lower the number of people allowed in the same group at restaurants from eight to four. This decision will come into force on Christmas Eve.
3. Cap on number of people in shops
The Public Health Agency will instruct shopping centres, shops and gyms to identify a maximum limit on the number of customers allowed in the shop at the same time. It is also urging stores to implement more measures to cut crowding and not actively try to attract shoppers by organising post-Christmas sales in physical stores.
4. Online teaching to continue for over-16s
The Public Health Agency's recommendation to upper secondary schools (gymnasieskolor) to move teaching online will be extended to January 24th. This decision was reinstated in December after these schools closed in spring, then reopened in autumn.
5. Non-essential public services told to close
All non-essential public services run by the state, regions and municipalities should close with immediate effect on the government's urging. This includes for example swimming pools, libraries and museums, and applies until January 24th.
6. Face masks on public transport
The Public Health Agency will issue recommendations for face masks at certain times on public transport. These guidelines will state what times and what kind of masks are recommended, and will be issued before many return to work on January 7th after the Christmas holidays. Public transport operators will be told to inform travellers of the guidelines and be able to provide free face masks to passengers who don't have them.
7. Everyone who can should work from home
People are already advised to work from home if the nature of their work allows, but the government reiterated this and strengthened its tone to emphasise that "everyone who can work from home should work from home". This applies to all employers, both in the private and public sector.
Everyone in Sweden is still expected to follow the coronavirus recommendations that are already in place, such as socially distancing, avoiding public transport if possible, and meeting as few people as possible. Read more about those recommendations here. To keep up with the recommendations, you can also follow The Local's paywall-free blog, and the Krisinformation website for urgent information from Swedish authorities.
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