Today in Sweden: A round-up of the latest news on Wednesday
Find out what's going on in Sweden today with The Local's short round-up of the news in less than five minutes.
No bans on visits to care homes
There are now no elderly care homes left in Sweden that have the right to keep its residents' loved ones out, after a temporary visiting ban expired in Överkalix in northern Sweden on Tuesday, reported the TT news agency on Wednesday morning.
Despite an increasing spread of coronavirus in Sweden, which is still considered serious, vaccinations of the most vulnerable elderly people appear to be having an effect with the number of new confirmed Covid-19 cases in care homes falling, as well as the death rate. According to the latest figures, 91 percent of care home residents have received one dose of the vaccine and 82 percent have received both doses.
Municipalities are still allowed to advise against visits to care homes.
Swedish vocabulary: visit – besök
Mass tests of seasonal workers in ski resorts
All seasonal workers in the Åre and Vemdalen areas are to be tested for coronavirus, reports Swedish public radio broadcaster SR's news show Ekot. Other workplaces, such as hairdressers and grocery stores, are also part of the boosted screening.
Vemdalen is currently seeing an increasing number of confirmed coronavirus cases, but they appear to be on the decrease in Åre after increased contact tracing in the area.
Swedish vocabulary: ski resort – skidort
Swedish Centre Party leader prepared to join Social Democrat government
Centre Party leader Annie Lööf has told the Expressen newspaper that she would be prepared to join a government together with the centre-left Social Democrats or the conservative Moderates after the next election, which will be held in September 2022.
Her comments come after the leaders of the Liberal Party voted to stop propping up the red-green coalition and campaign alongside the Moderates in the run-up to the election.
Both parties campaigned in the 2018 election as part of a four-party right-wing alliance with the Moderate and Christian Democrat parties, but broke ranks in order not to back a government dependent on the support of the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats.
Instead, they struck the January Agreement with the Social Democrats and the Green Party, ending four months of post-election deadlock and granting the Social Democrats' Stefan Löfven another term as prime minister, in exchange for a series of compromises.
Swedish vocabulary: government – regering
EXPLAINED: What does the Liberals' switching of sides mean for Sweden's next election? https://t.co/cipbdSFPQK
— The Local Sweden (@TheLocalSweden) March 8, 2021
17 Swedish towns to get new cash machines after law change
New cash machines will be installed in 17 Swedish towns after the country changed its laws to require the country's major banks to offer cash withdrawals even in rural areas.
The new law means that six of Sweden's largest banks have to allow customers to deposit and take out cash from their branches, without having to travel too far.
Ten towns will get their first cash machines in the first half of 2021, and seven will have their current cash machines upgraded. Here's a full list of all the towns.
Swedish vocabulary: cash machine – uttagsautomat (although colloquially many will use the word bankomat, which is also the brand name of a cash machine company owned by Sweden's banking giants)
17 Swedish towns to get new cash machines after law change https://t.co/IVRYBNGDgA
— The Local Sweden (@TheLocalSweden) March 9, 2021
DON'T MISS: What's in store for your Swedish money and spending power in 2021?
With no expensive international travel for business, family or leisure for a year, fewer visits to restaurants and pubs, and stubbornly low interest rates, many foreigners living in Sweden will be starting the year with more spare cash than usual, bank economists have told The Local. It may sound paradoxical, and it of course depends on your particular situation – we've looked into who will be worse and better off in 2021.
Swedish vocabulary: money – pengar
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No bans on visits to care homes
There are now no elderly care homes left in Sweden that have the right to keep its residents' loved ones out, after a temporary visiting ban expired in Överkalix in northern Sweden on Tuesday, reported the TT news agency on Wednesday morning.
Despite an increasing spread of coronavirus in Sweden, which is still considered serious, vaccinations of the most vulnerable elderly people appear to be having an effect with the number of new confirmed Covid-19 cases in care homes falling, as well as the death rate. According to the latest figures, 91 percent of care home residents have received one dose of the vaccine and 82 percent have received both doses.
Municipalities are still allowed to advise against visits to care homes.
Swedish vocabulary: visit – besök
Mass tests of seasonal workers in ski resorts
All seasonal workers in the Åre and Vemdalen areas are to be tested for coronavirus, reports Swedish public radio broadcaster SR's news show Ekot. Other workplaces, such as hairdressers and grocery stores, are also part of the boosted screening.
Vemdalen is currently seeing an increasing number of confirmed coronavirus cases, but they appear to be on the decrease in Åre after increased contact tracing in the area.
Swedish vocabulary: ski resort – skidort
Swedish Centre Party leader prepared to join Social Democrat government
Centre Party leader Annie Lööf has told the Expressen newspaper that she would be prepared to join a government together with the centre-left Social Democrats or the conservative Moderates after the next election, which will be held in September 2022.
Her comments come after the leaders of the Liberal Party voted to stop propping up the red-green coalition and campaign alongside the Moderates in the run-up to the election.
Both parties campaigned in the 2018 election as part of a four-party right-wing alliance with the Moderate and Christian Democrat parties, but broke ranks in order not to back a government dependent on the support of the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats.
Instead, they struck the January Agreement with the Social Democrats and the Green Party, ending four months of post-election deadlock and granting the Social Democrats' Stefan Löfven another term as prime minister, in exchange for a series of compromises.
Swedish vocabulary: government – regering
EXPLAINED: What does the Liberals' switching of sides mean for Sweden's next election? https://t.co/cipbdSFPQK
— The Local Sweden (@TheLocalSweden) March 8, 2021
17 Swedish towns to get new cash machines after law change
New cash machines will be installed in 17 Swedish towns after the country changed its laws to require the country's major banks to offer cash withdrawals even in rural areas.
The new law means that six of Sweden's largest banks have to allow customers to deposit and take out cash from their branches, without having to travel too far.
Ten towns will get their first cash machines in the first half of 2021, and seven will have their current cash machines upgraded. Here's a full list of all the towns.
Swedish vocabulary: cash machine – uttagsautomat (although colloquially many will use the word bankomat, which is also the brand name of a cash machine company owned by Sweden's banking giants)
17 Swedish towns to get new cash machines after law change https://t.co/IVRYBNGDgA
— The Local Sweden (@TheLocalSweden) March 9, 2021
DON'T MISS: What's in store for your Swedish money and spending power in 2021?
With no expensive international travel for business, family or leisure for a year, fewer visits to restaurants and pubs, and stubbornly low interest rates, many foreigners living in Sweden will be starting the year with more spare cash than usual, bank economists have told The Local. It may sound paradoxical, and it of course depends on your particular situation – we've looked into who will be worse and better off in 2021.
Swedish vocabulary: money – pengar
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