Sweden: Authorities to lift recommendations against travel to four European countries from July 30 /update 9

Event

Swedish authorities will lift recommendations against travel to four European countries from Thursday, July 30, as the country eases restrictions imposed due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The country will no longer advise against non-essential travel to Norway, Denmark, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic as the rates of COVID-19 infection in these countries have reportedly fallen.

Swedish authorities announced that a ban on the entry of foreign nationals has been extended until August 31. Travelers from the European Economic Area (EEA) member states, however, are exempt from the ban with no additional restrictions.

Schools, restaurants, and shops have remained open throughout the pandemic, although social distancing measures have been advised. Gatherings of more than 50 people are banned, as are visits to care homes for the elderly.

As of Wednesday, July 29, there have been 79,782 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country, and 5730 associated fatalities. Further international spread of the virus is expected in 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). Since then, human-to-human transmission of the virus has been confirmed.

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

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Some patients may experience other symptoms such as body pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell or a rash on skin or discoloration of fingers or toes. These symptoms (in most cases mild) appear gradually. Generally, most patients (around 80 percent) recover from the disease without being hospitalized.

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: