Sweden: COVID-19 death toll passes 1000 as of April 14 /update 5

Event

On Tuesday, April 14, the Public Health Agency announced that the death toll from the country's outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has reached 1033, and a total of 11,455 cases have been confirmed. While the country adopted a relatively soft approach in terms of restrictions to limit the spread of the virus, the number of fatalities remains proportionally high compared to other northern European countries.

Due to the ongoing spread of the virus, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs extended its advice against all non-essential travel to all countries until Monday, June 15. The decision to issue the advice was originally made on Saturday, March 14.

Braathens Regional Airlines (BRA) has suspended all flights from Monday, April 6, through Sunday, May 31, amid a drop in consumer demand.

On Wednesday, March 18, Interior Minister Mikael Damberg announced the temporary closure of Sweden's borders for 30 days to most visitors from non-EU countries. The measure came into effect on Thursday, March 19, and will remain in place until Friday, April 17. In addition to EU citizens and permanent residents, individuals with "particularly important reasons" will be allowed to enter the country.

The Swedish government previously announced on Wednesday, March 11, that all public gatherings and events must be limited to no more than 500 participants. This includes demonstrations and events held for sports, culture, religion, and any other gathering in which freedom of assembly is exercised.

Further international spread of the virus is to be expected over the near term.

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Human-to-human and patient-to-medical staff transmission of the virus have been confirmed. Many of the associated fatalities have been due to pneumonia caused by the virus.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. Virus-screening and quarantine measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak a pandemic.

Pneumonia symptoms include dry cough, chest pain, fever, and trouble breathing. Pneumonia can be contagious and can be transmitted from human to human. The influenza virus, or the flu, is a common cause of viral pneumonia.

Advice

Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.

To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:

• Frequently clean hands by applying an alcohol-based hand rub or washing with soap and water.
• When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.
• If experiencing a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including pneumonia, call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the disease.