Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK
For members

TODAY IN SWEDEN

Today in Sweden: A roundup of the latest news on Tuesday

Find out what's going on in Sweden today with The Local's short roundup of the news in less than five minutes.

Published: 1 February 2022 08:38 CET
police at the scene of a fatal explosion in Gothenburg last autumn
Police have revealed what they believe caused a fatal explosion in Gothenburg last autumn. Photo: Adam Ihse/TT

Sweden cuts booster dose wait to three months

Sweden’s Public Health Agency has given regions the go-ahead to shorten the interval between the second and third dose of the Covid vaccine from five to three months.

More than 45 percent of over-18s in Sweden have been given a booster dose, but the agency said it wanted to speed up the process amid a sharp rise in Covid infections. The decision comes three weeks after the country reduced the booster waiting time from six months.

Sweden uses half a dose of Moderna’s Spikevax vaccine or a full dose of Pfizer/Biontech’s Comirnaty as the third dose. The latter is recommended for under-31s.

Swedish vocabulary: the third dose – den tredje dosen

Police wrap up investigation into fatal Gothenburg blast

An explosion in an apartment block in Gothenburg, which made global headlines last autumn, was likely caused by a fuel air explosion, a police probe has found. Traces of petrol were found at the scene, but there were no signs of any explosive device having detonated.

The main suspect behind the blast, who had been due to be evicted from the building on the same day, was found dead days later with suicide believed to be the cause of death.

Police would not comment when approached by the TT news agency on Monday whether the explosion is believed to have been a deliberate act or some kind of accident.

A woman died and at least 15 people needed hospital care after the blast.

Swedish vocabulary: petrol – bensin

New statistics reveal most popular baby names in Sweden

If a Swede had a baby in 2021, chances are they named them Alice or Noah.

A total of 706 girls in Sweden were named Alice in 2021. For the sixth year in a row, the name made the top of national number crunchers Statistics Sweden’s list.

Noah was the most popular name for boys, with 745 newborn Noahs last year.

See the top-ten list here.

Swedish vocabulary: a name – ett namn

Man suspected of flying drone over King and Queen’s home in Sweden

A man who was arrested on suspicion of flying a drone over the residence of the King and Queen of Sweden has been released, but is still formally considered a suspect, said the prosecutor in charge of the case.

Swedish police did not confirm the nationality of the man, who newspaper Aftonbladet identified as a Russian man in his 40s, who was arrested around 1pm on Sunday near Drottningholm Palace. The prosecutor confirmed he was a foreign national.

Swedish vocabulary: a palace – ett slott

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.
For members

TODAY IN SWEDEN

Today in Sweden: A round up of the latest news on Friday

The rising cost of ice cream, coronavirus warnings and the hottest Midsummer in 50 years. Here's Sweden's news on Friday.

Published: 24 June 2022 10:31 CEST
Today in Sweden: A round up of the latest news on Friday

Rising cost of ice cream

As you reach for something cool this Midsummer, you may notice that the price of ice cream has increased in Sweden.

According to Matpriskollen, their best-selling Magnum almonds are 13 percent more expensive this year and the price of Piggelin ice creams has risen by 24 percent.

The rising cost of energy and raw materials has made it more expensive for ice cream manufacturers to run their factories. 

“Many raw materials have risen quite sharply in price, everything from milk to plastic packaging”, Stefan Carlsson, CEO of the manufacturer Sia Glass said.

And if you’re wondering what happened to the ice cream Twister Spirello; it is currently unavailable in Sweden. The ice cream is manufactured in Russia, where GB Glace no longer import and export from, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“We are actively working to find alternative manufacturing opportunities,” Sandhya Forselius, communications manager at Unilever, which owns GB Glace, wrote in an email to newswire TT.

Warnings over coronavirus spreading during Midsummer festivities as cases rise

A doctor in the Blekinge region has warned people to be cautious about joining in Midsummer parties if they have any Covid symptoms, as cases have doubled over the last four weeks.

“Think ahead this Midsummer, especially if you are going to celebrate with elderly and fragile people. Refrain if you feel the slightest cold,” infection control doctor Bengt Wittesjö said in a press release.

In the Blekinge region, the number of positive Covid cases has increased from six percent in week 21, to 44 percent in week 25 and there are now more people in hospital with Covid.

At the hospitals in Blekinge, protection measures such as masks have been reintroduced.

‘Hottest in 50 years’: Swedish Midsummer set to be a scorcher

This Midsummer could be Sweden’s warmest since 1970, weather forecasters say, with temperatures of up to 30 degrees expected for southern Sweden and between 20-25 degrees expected further north.

“It could potentially be the hottest Midsummer’s Eve in 50 years,” SVT’s meteorologist Tora Tomasdottir told the public broadcaster.

In 1970, temperatures of 34.4 degrees were measured in Köping on Midsummer.

“It’s not going to be that hot this year, but we could reach over the 31 degrees measured in Målilla six years ago,” she further told SVT.

“For those planning on partying all night long, you maybe don’t need to take that many extra layers with you, as it will be warm during the evening, too,” Tomasdottir told SVT.

The Swedish Public Health Agency is also warning people to take care in the heat by drinking plenty of fluids and trying to keep cool.

“In general, we in Sweden have a bad idea of ​​how dangerous the heat can be. It can be dangerous for everyone, not just for risk groups”, Elin Andersson, researcher in environmental health at the Swedish Public Health Agency, said.

SHOW COMMENTS