This is how Sweden tightens up – a maximum of 8 people can gather – VG

Over the past week, the government and the health authorities have repeatedly asked the Swedish population to take the infection control councils seriously.

This is happening after a very rapid increase in infection, more and more intensive care patients with covid-19 and once again double-digit deaths per day in Sweden.

Prime Minister Stefan Löfven announced today during a press conference that Sweden is now moving from recommendations to bans in several areas.

The government proposes, among other things, the following measures from 24 November:

• Prohibited with gatherings over 8 people
• Full stop at 10 pm

– We do not take it lightly to limit people’s right to gather in our country, but seen in connection with the situation we are in, it is necessary, said Minister of the Interior Mikael Damberg on Monday.

The ban will initially apply for four weeks.

Alerts possible action over Christmas

Damberg further says that if the situation does not improve, the rules must be extended to over Christmas and New Year. He encourages people to stay at home as much as possible.

Prime Minister Löfven further points out that everyone now has a responsibility to stop the spread of infection, even though he understands that people are sorry for the situation.

– We live in a time of trial. The situation will get worse, said Löfven.

He further emphasizes that not all social gatherings can be stopped by law, and that several of the measures that are now being launched are recommendations.

– We must completely minimize our social meetings. Do not go to the gym, do not visit and do not invite to dinner, the prime minister exhorts the population, the prime minister said.

Stricter advice in several places

On Monday, it also became clear that the Public Health Authority will introduce stricter infection control councils for two more regions, Västernorrland and Gävleborg. This means that they now apply everywhere in Sweden except Jämtland Härjedalen.

The advice is to refrain from unnecessary travel, avoid public indoor environments, such as shops and museums, only have physical contact with people in your own household and avoid meetings, concerts and other performances.

At the beginning of November, stricter rules were also introduced for restaurant visits. A maximum of eight people can now sit at the same table.

Softened up in October

The increase in infection comes after a late summer with relatively low infection rates, and as recently as 22 October, the authorities decided on an exception in the ban on public gatherings and events, where the limit has been 50 people.

For theater, concerts, cinema and sporting events with seating, up to 300 people should be allowed if they managed to keep a certain distance.

However, a number of the country’s regions have stuck to the limit of 50 people.