[ad_1]
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – Sweden is expected to see COVID-19 infections ramp up in the coming months, while current restrictions to limit the spread will need to be maintained until a higher proportion of the adult population is vaccinated, the health agency said on Monday. .
Sweden, which opted against lockdowns and relied mainly on voluntary measures, experienced a lull in the pandemic over the summer with few deaths and hospitalizations. However, the number of cases has increased in recent weeks and this trend is expected to continue as schools reopen and people return to work.
“All of our three scenarios indicate increased spread during the fall,” the Health Agency said in a statement. “It is assumed that more people will need hospital and intensive care, but at significantly lower levels than before during the pandemic.”
While infections were lower during the summer, the rapid spread of the highly infectious delta variant has prompted authorities to urge Swedes to be on guard, especially as colder weather is forcing people to stay inside.
He said current restrictions and recommendations, primarily to limit social interactions, isolate when sick and work from home if possible, should be maintained until more people have received COVID injections. About 65% of the adult population is fully vaccinated.
“When the immunization coverage rate is high enough that health care is not at risk of being overburdened, the Public Health Agency considers it reasonable to phase out most infection control measures, despite a spread of the virus, ”he said.
Sweden recorded significantly higher per capita deaths than its northern neighbors during the pandemic, but lower than most European countries.
(Reporting by Johan Ahlander; editing by Niklas Pollard)
[ad_2]
Source link