Sweden now has more hospitalized coronavirus patients than at any stage of the pandemic, as anti-lockdown expert Anders Tegnell admits: ‘We are on the edge’
- Sweden faced controversy for never imposing the type of blockade seen in Europe
- The latest data shows that the country has registered 17,395 new cases of coronavirus since Friday
- Figures show that December 17 was the deadliest day since the pandemic began, with 116 deaths from Covid, surpassing the previous peak of 115 daily deaths in April
Sweden has registered 17,395 new cases of coronavirus since Friday, totaling more than 500,000 cases since the pandemic began.
Statistics from the Healthy Agency mean that the country now has more hospitalized coronavirus patients than at any stage of the pandemic, as hospitals struggle to deal with a second rampant wave of the virus.
Sweden made headlines around the world for never imposing the type of blockade seen elsewhere in Europe, but began to tighten up in the face of a second wave stronger than expected in recent months.
Figures show that December 17 was the deadliest day since the pandemic began, with 116 deaths, exceeding the previous peak of 115 daily deaths in April.
Although Sweden still has about 20 percent of idle capacity in intensive care units, there are concerns that the spread will accelerate again, as people return to work and schools after the holidays.
“It is quite obvious that the health care system is so tense now (as it was during the spring),” said chief epidemiologist Anders Tegnell, the architect of a heterodox pandemic strategy that avoided blockades, at a news conference.
“We are close to the limit of what the health care system can support.”
On Friday, the Swedish parliament passed a pandemic law giving the government new powers to curb the spread of Covid in a country that has so far relied on non-coercive measures.
The new law, which went into effect on Sunday, allows the government to close deals, shopping malls or public transport.
Under the new law, the government has the authority to shut down public transport. In the photo: passengers wearing masks leave a train at Malmo central station in Malmo
The government can also impose limits on the number of people allowed in specific public places, instead of general restrictions on public meetings.
In most cases, failure to comply with the new restrictions will result in a fine, which was not possible before.
Unlike many other countries, Sweden does not have legislation that allows the government to close society in times of peace.
The ban on public meetings of more than eight people took effect in November and a recommendation on the use of masks in public transport took effect on Thursday.
The special pandemic law, which runs until September, was planned to go into effect in March, but has been postponed until January.
The country of 10 million people has registered 234 new deaths since Friday, bringing the total to 9,667.
The recorded deaths occurred over several days and weeks, with many of the Christmas period being recorded with a significant delay.
The second wave also affected how Swedes perceive how the authorities are dealing with the crisis.
In December, 47% said they had relatively high or high confidence in government and agency actions, up from 52% in the previous month.
Sweden’s per capita mortality rate is several times higher than that of its Nordic neighbors, but lower than several European countries that have opted for blockades.