“Must be wise and keep a distance”
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Sweden has the lowest number of new cases of covid-19 infection compared with our neighboring countries.
But according to Fredrik Elgh, professor of virology at Umeå University, we can not relax yet.
– We must continue, and we must continue even better than we do now, he says.
New statistics show that Sweden, in comparison with Norway, Finland and Denmark, has the lowest number of new cases of covid-19 infection.
This means that Sweden has the lowest incidence, ie the number of infections per 100,000 inhabitants, in the last two weeks.
Statistics from the Swedish Public Health Agency show that Sweden had an incidence of 33.0 on Thursday. Statistics from Our World in Data showed that Finland had 44.3, Norway 48.5 and Denmark 81.8.
May be due to the spread of the delta variant
According to Fredrik Elgh, professor of virology at Umeå University, it is difficult to know why it looks the way it does. But he can state that Sweden has a low spread of infection right now.
On the other hand, he does not think that the figures say much about the difference between Sweden and the neighboring countries.
– The Swedish curve has been stable for a week now, but at the same time we know that the Danes test themselves significantly more than we do. I would say that an incidence of 35 and 45 is about the same thing, he says, referring to differences between Sweden, Norway and Finland.
—-Denmark has the highest incidence among our neighboring countries.
–Photo: HANSSON KRISTER / Aftonbladet / TT NYHETSBYRÅN–
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However, the high figures in Denmark show a worse situation. Elgh says that it is unpleasant that their curve sticks out – and continues to increase.
It is probably related to the spread of the delta variant in Europe.
– That is the most likely reason. That worries me, because if you look at the EU average, it is in the same way as Denmark on the rise. In the UK, the spread of infection is 16 times higher than in Sweden and is increasing rapidly.
“Must continue to be careful”
Despite Sweden’s low spread of infection, Fredrik Elgh thinks that the spread of the delta variant in other countries should be taken seriously. He believes that it is not a question of when Sweden will also be affected to a greater degree, and therefore we should already be preparing.
– I see that people are tired like this. You understand that, I agree. We must continue, and we must continue even better than we do now, he says, adding:
– It really is not free to come to the restaurant, but you have to continue to be wise and keep your distance.
—-Fredrik Elgh raises a warning finger that we have not yet reached the vaccination target.
–Photo: Johan Nilsson / TT / TT NEWS AGENCY–
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The vaccinations make the current situation safer. With more vaccinated, Sweden will have fewer cases of people who are really ill. But Elgh wants to raise a finger because we are not finished with the vaccination plan yet.
– It’s like a fight here now, we are on and vaccinating all the time. But we still have not vaccinated everyone.