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2020 coronavirus pandemic in Sweden

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The ongoing worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in
Interaction 19), a new infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory Sweden

Help syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was confirmed to have reached

About Wikipedia Sweden on 31 January 2020, when a woman returning from Wuhan
Community portal tested positive. Starting from 26 February, following outbreaks in Italy
Recent changes and in Iran, multiple travel-related clusters appeared in Sweden.
Contact page Community transmission was confirmed on 9 March in the Stockholm
region. Since then, individuals in every län (county) have tested positive
Tools
for COVID-19. The first death was reported on 11 March in Stockholm, a
What links here
case of community transmission.
Related changes
Upload file Sweden has, unlike many other countries, not applied any lockdown,
Special pages with most measures being voluntary. The Swedish constitution mandates
Permanent link that the relevant expert agency, the Public Health Agency, rather than
Page information politicians must initiate any actions to prevent the virus. On agency
Wikidata item recommendation: the government has limited freedom of assembly,
Cite this page
temporarily banning gatherings of over 50 individuals and physically
In other projects closed secondary schools and universities. Primary schools have
Wikimedia remained open, in part to avoid healthcare workers from needing to stay
Map of confirmed cases in Sweden
Commons home with their children.
(absolute numbers)[1]
Print/export The Public Health Agency and government issued recommendations to Disease COVID-19
Download as PDF work from home, if possible; for people above 70 to stay at home; and Virus SARS-CoV-2
Printable version issued general recommendations to avoid unnecessary travel within the strain
country and to keep a social distance between people. Those with even Location Sweden
Languages First Wuhan, Hubei, China
minimal symptoms which could be COVID-19 are recommended to stay
‫العربية‬ outbreak
home. The 'karensdag' or initial day without paid sick-leave has been
Deutsch Index Jönköping
removed by the government and the length of time one can stay home case
Español
without a doctor's note has been raised from 7 to 21 days. Arrival 24 January 2020
Français
date (2 months, 1 week and 1 day)
한국어 As of 31 March 2020 11:30 am, there were 4435 confirmed cases, of
Confirmed 4,435[1] as of 31 March
Português which 358 had received intensive care, and 180 deaths related to the cases
Svenska newly found virus in Sweden, with Stockholm County being the most Severe No official data. Number of ICU
Tiếng Việt affected.[1] cases cases is 358[1] as of 31 March

Deaths 180[1] as of 31 March

Edit links Contents [hide]
Official website
1 History Folkhälsomyndigheten Covid-19 (in
2 Healthcare Swedish)

3 Government response
3.1 International response
4 Public response
4.1 Debate
4.2 International public response
5 Social impact
5.1 Education
5.2 Politics
5.3 Sports
6 Economic impact
7 Statistics
7.1 Additional data
8 Timeline
9 References
10 External links

History [ edit ]

The COVID-19 outbreak, which the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a pandemic on 11 March,[2] has
had a disparate impact on different areas of Sweden. The first case was introduced directly from Wuhan to the
country on 24 January, with a woman confirmed positive for the virus on 31 January in Jönköping. The case was
fully isolated and there are no reports of further spread.[3][4]

The second case was introduced from northern Italy on 26 February.[5][3] With five additional cases confirmed on
the 12th, the Swedish Public Health Agency ('Folkhälsomyndigheten') put out a statement that these cases were
all related to travel to high-risk zones and that there was no evidence of community transmission.[6] Disease
control measures, including extensive contact tracing turned up over 200 travel-related cases in the following
weeks, all with connection to confirmed cases or travel to high risk regions.[7]

On 9 March the first cases of community transmission was confirmed among two patients who had sought care
at S:t Göran Hospital on 6 March.[8] They were assumed to have been infected through community transmission
approximately 7 days before seeking care.[citation needed]

The Public Health Agency of Sweden responded on the 10th by raising risk assessment of community spread
from moderate to very high, which is the highest level.[9][9]

The first death was reported on 11 March, when a person in their 70s from the Stockholm region died in the
intensive care unit of Karolinska University Hospital. The person was reported to have acquired the virus through
community transmission, believed to have occurred about one week before death. The person also belonged to
a risk group.[10]

Freedom of assembly has been limited to gatherings of less than 50 people, through the passage of and
application of new law on 11 March. The initial limit was 500, lowered on 27 March.[11][12][13]

Healthcare [ edit ]

As of 27 March nearly 3 out of 4 patients in intensive care in Sweden are men. The majority of them have
underlying symptoms such as high blood pressure. The number of deaths in Sweden is also disproportionately
men.[14]

It has also been reported that a disproportionate number of those that have passed away have been Swedish
Somali, with 6[15] out of 89[16] deaths being members of the Swedish Somali community in the Stockholm
region.[15]

The increasing number of cases in large areas such as Stockholm and Uppsala has resulted in the cancellation
or postponement of up to 90% of planned surgeries, including cancer related surgeries.[17]

Government response [ edit ]

This section needs
expansion. You can help by
adding to it. (March 2020)

The Swedish government has tried to focus efforts on encouraging the right behaviour and creating social norms
rather than mandatory restrictions. Government officials including Swedish prime minister Stefan Löfven, as well
as the Public Health Agency of Sweden have encouraged each individual to take responsibility for their own
health and the health of others.[18] Löfven has stated that stricter measures will be taken as appropriate, and as
guided by the expert agencies.[19]

The government has issued progressively stricter advisories against travel. Unnecessary travel to certain parts of
China was recommended against the 17th February,[20] Iran the 2nd March,[21] Italy the 10th of March[22] and all
international travel was recommended against the 14th of March.[23] Travel from non-EU/EES member states
was stopped the 17th of March[24] and unnecessary travel within Sweden was advised against the 19th of
March.[25]

On 11 March, the same day as the first Swedish death to COVID-19, the Swedish government passed a new
law, temporarily banning all gatherings larger than 500 people, with threat of fine and prison.[11] The ban will
apply until further notice.[12] On 27 March the government announced that gatherings of more that 50 people
were banned.[13]

On 11 March 2020, the karensdag, the unpaid first day of sick leave, was temporarily discontinued in an effort to
encourage people to stay home if they were experiencing symptoms that are consistent with COVID-19.[26]

The normal costs of employer contributions have also been temporarily discontinued for small business owners.
This will save small businesses approximately 5000SEK per employee each month but will result in a loss of tax
revenue of 33 billion SEK.[27]

Local governments, such as the municipal government in Gävle, have applied measures to businesses delaying
the payment of invoices until September 1, 2020 at the earliest and deferring rent payments.[28]

The Stockholm International Fairs, Stockholmsmässan, are being converted into a field hospital with the help of
the Swedish Defence Forces. The field hospital will be able to house 600 seriously and critically sick patients.[29]
The Swedish Defence Forces will provide equipment for 30 of the 600 beds and the Stockholm Regional Council
will provide the remaining 570.[29]

On 24 March 2020, the government introduced new restrictions to bars and restaurants requiring all service to be
table service only. Venues that do not adhere to the new restrictions could be shut down.[30]

On 27 March, the government banned public gatherings of more than 50 people.[31]

International response [ edit ]

On 8 March Vietnam suspends its visa waiver program to Sweden and seven
other European countries in response to the number of cases.[32]

Public response [ edit ]

This section needs
expansion. You can help by
adding to it. (March 2020) An army-constructed field
hospital outsideÖstra Sjukhuset
On 25 March 2020 Björn Eriksson, the Director of Healthcare in Stockholm, in Gothenburgon 23 March
2020. The tents contain
appealed to anyone in the Stockholm region who had experience in
temporary intensive care units
healthcare to volunteer. As of the 26 March 2020 5100 people with for COVID-19 patients.
healthcare experience had registered as volunteers.[33]

Starting 30 March 2020 the public library in Gävle will start with a book
delivery service for people aged 70 or older. The library will also start a take-
away service where you can pre-loan books and pick them in a take-away
bag.[34]

Debate [ edit ]

International public response [ edit ]

Medical tent set up outside
With Sweden having taken some of the least strict measures of any Visby Hospital, 14 March 2020.
European country or of countries with a similar number of cases, the
response has been both criticized and praised by international
media.[35][36][37] The Swedish constitution mandates that the relevant expert
agency, the Public Health Agency, rather than politicians must initiate any
actions to prevent the virus.[38]

Social impact [ edit ]

Streetsigns outside
The world's largest half marathon in Gothenburg, Göteborgsvarvet, was Sahlgrenska hospital from late
February telling those with
postponed until later in 2020 and then cancelled completely on 27 March.[39] potential symptoms of COVID-
19 to wait outside the hospital.
Education [ edit ]
On March 13, 2020 the April Swedish Scholastic Aptitude Test, Högskoleprovet, was cancelled affecting
approximately 70000 prospective students who had registered themselves. This was the first time the Swedish
Scholastic Aptitude Test has been cancelled since it was established in 1977.[40]

On March 23, 2020 the Swedish National Agency for Education, Skolverket, cancelled the national tests to give
teachers in Sweden more time to prepare for the possibility of distance education.[41]

Politics [ edit ]
On 25 March, The Swedish Social Democratic Party together with the
Swedish Trade Union Confederation decided to cancel their traditional May
Day demonstrations. They will instead hold an event on a digital platform,
which will include speeches by the Swedish prime minister and leader of the
Social Democrats, Stefan Löfven, as well as union confederation leader Karl-
Petter Thorwaldsson.[42] The Left Party (Sweden) also cancelled their
Panic buying in a normally
nationwide demonstrations, and announced the there would instead be a well-stocked Gothenburg-
digital celebration, including a speech by party leader Jonas Sjöstedt.[43] supermarket resulting in a toilet
paper shortage

Sports [ edit ]
On 19 March, the governing body for association football in Sweden formally announced that the premiere of the
2020 season for the first and second division leagues, men's Allsvenskan and Superettan as well as women's
Damallsvenskan and Elitettan, will be postponed to late May or early June. The decision will not affect the
leagues below the second level.[44] Two days later it was announced that the 2020 edition of the association
football award ceremony Fotbollsgalan was cancelled.[45]

Economic impact [ edit ]

This section needs
expansion. You can help by
adding to it. (March 2020)

On 15 March SAS announced that they would temporarily reduce their workforce by 10,000 people which
constitutes roughly 90% of their workforce.[46]

Statistics [ edit ]

New COVID-19 cases in Sweden by county ( V ·T ·E ) [hide]

County Cases[a]
Västernorrland
Södermanland

Västmanland

Östergötland
Västerbotten
Norrbotten
Kronoberg

Stockholm
Jönköping
Gävleborg

Värmland
Jämtland

Götaland
Blekinge

Date
Uppsala
Gotland
Dalarna

Halland

Kalmar

Örebro
Västra

New Total Diff.

Skåne

Source(s)

2020- [47]
1 1 1 —
01-31

2020-
1 1 2 +100% [48]
02-26

2020-
1 1 3 5 7 +250% [49]
02-27

2020- [50]
1 2 1 4 11 +57%
02-28

2020-
1 1 2 13 +18%
02-29

2020-
1 1 14 +8%
03-01

2020-
1 1 15 +7%
03-02

2020-
1 1 10 3 15 30 +100%
03-03

2020-
1 16 2 2 1 22 52 +73%
03-04
[51]
2020-
1 7 28 2 3 1 42 94 +81%
03-05

2020-
03- 1 5 5 21 1 8 2 43 137 +46%
06[b]

2020-
3 21 24 161 +18%
03-07

2020-
5 14 1 7 12 3 42 203 +26%
03-08

2020-
1 2 32 3 1 6 45 248 +22%
03-09

2020-
5 3 60 1 -1 -3 13 78 326 +31%
03-10

2020-
03- 1 3 1 3 2 1 2 35 28 4 1 8 6 40 135 461 +41%
11[c]

2020-
03- 5 1 2 1 10 2 13 1 7 3 37 32 6 3 3 31 1 1 159 620 +34%
12[d]

2020-
2 2 2 14 2 7 2 2 31 41 3 10 7 1 4 5 18 2 155 775 +25%
03-13

2020-
1 1 7 6 5 2 42 33 6 11 1 1 21 2 10 149 924 +19%
03-14

2020-
1 2 1 1 27 18 1 2 4 4 7 68 992 +7%
03-15

2020-
1 1 2 8 4 2 4 18 1 1 17 8 67 1,059 +7%
03-16

2020-
2 1 1 3 1 2 6 33 16 5 3 5 11 3 3 13 108 1,167 +10%
03-17

2020-
4 1 4 3 1 1 -1 2 36 4 9 1 1 2 20 11 13 112 1,279 +10%
03-18

2020-
2 2 2 2 2 1 7 55 1 15 2 4 1 8 4 36 144 1,423 +11%
03-19

2020-
1 3 2 2 3 3 2 2 1 4 105 5 6 4 1 1 21 6 28 200 1,623 +14%
03-20
[52]
2020-
5 3 4 3 3 1 4 3 55 4 1 1 2 2 14 8 10 123 1,746 +8%
03-21

2020-
4 3 10 4 1 3 5 99 6 3 2 8 1 11 160 1,906 +9%
03-22

2020-
1 1 9 1 1 1 3 56 11 5 1 2 4 14 110 2,016 +6%
03-23

2020-
13 3 4 6 3 3 8 7 143 2 11 3 2 1 11 6 30 256 2,272 +13%
03-24

2020-
10 5 3 4 6 2 1 5 8 111 19 9 3 3 2 5 10 10 22 238 2,510 +10%
03-25

2020-
3 12 7 4 1 5 2 1 5 10 146 29 15 4 2 2 22 8 18 296 2,806 +12%
03-26

2020-
9 4 5 8 8 9 6 2 4 7 95 12 12 3 4 7 20 2 23 238 3,046 +8%
03-27

2020-
15 2 9 3 3 15 3 1 3 8 227 33 20 1 2 8 13 7 28 401 3,447 +13%
03-28

2020-
2 6 13 6 6 9 2 4 2 4 119 1 7 2 5 2 1 21 2 39 253 3,700 +7%
03-29

2020-
3 9 2 6 1 3 3 4 149 43 4 1 1 4 23 21 9 42 328 4,028 +9%
03-30

2020-
1 15 11 7 4 17 3 4 4 4 173 36 23 1 7 15 9 27 23 23 407 4,435 +10%
03-31

Total 21 97 11 86 96 81 126 34 34 51 283 1,979 239 183 50 55 46 79 399 109 376 4,435 —

Deaths 9 2 7 9 1 1 8 103 18 6 1 2 6 1 6 +34 180 +23%

ICU- [55]
1 9 8 6 1 11 2 9 14 164 40 14 4 5 3 10 40 9 27 +62 377 +20%
care

Notes
a. ^ Reported, confirmed cases. Actual case numbers may be higher.
b. ^ From 6 March 2020 onwards, Stockholm County reported its cases after 24 hours.[citation needed]
c. ^ Stockholm County decided to only test hospitalized patients from risk groups and healthcare personnel with symptoms from 11 March 2020
onwards.[53]
d. ^ The Public Health Agency of Sweden decided to only test hospitalized patients from risk groups and healthcare personnel with symptoms from
12 March 2020 onwards.[54]

The datasources for the following charts are base on the region reports,[56][unreliable source?][57][unreliable source?]
showing higher numbers, up to one day ahead of the Public Health Agency of Sweden and ECDC official
data. [clarification needed]

[58] [59]

Additional data [ edit ]

Case list of confirmed infected patients in Sweden (Outbreak - 11 March 2020) [show]

Number of analysed samples per week [hide]

Total
Analysed
Week Analysed Comment
Samples
Samples

before
Deduced from reference [188] as samples analysed for week 10 and 11
week 1000 1000
are given and total number of analysed until end of week 11.
10

10 4200[188] 5200[188]

11 9100[188] 14300[188]

12 10300[189] 24500[189]

Note that all numbers are approximate as that is what

Folkhälsomyndigheten provides.

COVID-19 cases in Sweden ( V ·T ·E )

Deaths Recoveries Active cases
Date # of cases

2020-01-31 1 (n.a.)

⋮ 1 (=)

2020-02-26 2 (+100%)

2020-02-27 7 (+250%)

2020-02-28 11 (+57%)

2020-02-29 13 (+18%)

2020-03-01 14 (+7.7%)

2020-03-02 15 (+7.1%)

2020-03-03 30 (+100%)

2020-03-04 52 (+73%)

2020-03-05 94 (+81%)

2020-03-06 137 (+46%)

2020-03-07 161 (+18%)

2020-03-08 203 (+26%)

2020-03-09 260 (+28%)

2020-03-10 356 (+37%)

2020-03-11 500 (+40%)

2020-03-12 687‡ (+37%)

2020-03-13 814 (+18%)

2020-03-14 941 (+16%)

2020-03-15 1,032 (+10%)

2020-03-16 1,121 (+8.6%)

2020-03-17 1,196 (+6.6%)

2020-03-18 1,292 (+8.0%)

2020-03-19 1,439 (+11.4%)

2020-03-20 1,639 (+13.9%)

2020-03-21 1,770 (+8.0%)

2020-03-22 1,934 (+9.1%)

2020-03-23 2,046 (+5.8%)

2020-03-24 2,286 (+11.7%)

2020-03-25 2,526 (+10.5%)

2020-03-26 2,840 (+12.4%)

2020-03-27 3,069 (+8.1%)

2020-03-28 3,447 (+12.3%)

2020-03-29 3,700 (+7.3%)

2020-03-30 4,028 (+8.9%)

2020-03-31 4,435 (+10.1%)

Sources: "Coronavirus Update (Live) - Worldometer"[190]

Notes:

‡ National shift in testing strategy to cover elderly, hospitalized patients and health care
personnel

Timeline [ edit ]
This section needs
expansion. You can help by
adding to it. (March 2020)

This section needs

expansion. You can help by
adding to it. (March 2020)

Year Month Day Cases and Deaths Responses

The first known case was retrodated in a Chinese

November 17 government report to 17 November, but was not
recognized at the time.[191]
2019
China contacts the WHO and informs them of
December 31 "cases of pneumonia of unknown etiology
(unknown cause) detected in Wuhan"[192]

The Swedish Public Health

Agency puts forth a press
release that it is monitoring the
spread of novel coronavirus
(nCOV) said to have spread
16
from the Huanan Seafood
Wholesale Market in Wuhan,
in Hubei province, China. The
risk of spread to Sweden is
described as "very low".[193]

Sweden confirmed the first case of COVID-19. A

woman in her 20s, returning from Wuhan on 24
January, tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus
January and was admitted at Ryhov Region Hospital in
Jönköping.[194][3] Having isolated herself voluntarily
at home upon arriving in Sweden she was deemed
not to have posed any transmission risk during
travel or during her initial days in Sweden.[3] The
31 local university college of Jönköping, stated at the
time that it had around 200 Chinese exchange
students, responding that the woman may have
been a student.[195][196] The woman was declared
asymptomatic, but not fully discharged from
healthcare services after over one month of care on
3 March.[4] However, viral fragments continued to
be detectable with transmission of live viral
particles being deemed unlikely.[4]

A Chinese Lantern Festival in

Jönköping was cancelled in
9 response to the first case
imported from Wuhan roughly
a week previously.[197]

The Swedish Ministry of

Foreign Affairs advised
against all trips to the Hubei
17 province in China, as well as
non-essential travel to the rest
of China apart from Hong
Kong and Macao.[198]

Following the COVID-19 outbreak in Italy, a 30-

year-old man fell ill three days after returning from
26 northern Italy. He tested positive for the virus, and
was admitted to Sahlgrenska University Hospital in
Gothenburg.[5][3]

The employer's organisation

Almega advised its members
to stay at home from work for
two weeks if they had visited
Five new cases were confirmed.[64] Västra
corona risk areas. According
Götaland Region confirmed that three people in
to the Swedish Social
their 30s had tested positive in Gothenburg. Two of
Insurance Agency
them had been in contact with the 30-year-old
('Försäkringskassan') the
patient hospitalized the previous day, and one was
employee can receive
deemed to have contracted the virus in
quarantine allowance
Italy.[199][200]
('smittbärarpenning') if the
February
Stockholm Region confirmed that one individual person has a medical
27
who had tested positive for the virus after returning certificate.[203]
from Iran was admitted to Karolinska University
t On 2 March the Swedish
Hospital for isolation.[201] Uppsala Region
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
confirmed that a woman who had traveled to
advised against trips to Iran,
Germany on a business trip, and met with an Italian
due to the uncontrolled spread
colleague, had sought medical attention after
of the Covid-19 in the
showing flu-like symptoms. She tested positive and
country.[204] The Swedish
was admitted to Uppsala University Hospital.[202]
Transport Board also revoked
Iran Airs permit for Iranian
flights to land in Sweden from
the same date.[205]

Four new cases were confirmed.[71][206] Jönköping

Region confirmed that a man in his 50's had tested
positive, and been admitted to Ryhov Region
Hospital. He had returned to Sweden from Northern
Italy on 24 February, and begun feeling ill 25
February.[74]

28 Stockholm Region confirmed two positive cases

related to the previous individual who had returned
from Iran. They were also admitted to Karolinska
University Hospital for isolation.[207] Uppsala
Region confirmed that an individual who had
returned from Iran tested positive for the virus, and
was in home quarantine.[208]

Two new cases were confirmed, one in Västra

29
Götaland, and one in Stockholm.[79]

One new case was confirmed in Västra

1
Götaland.[80]

2 One new case was confirmed in Stockholm.[81]

15 new cases were confirmed: ten in Stockholm,

three in Västra Götaland, one in Scania and one in
Jönköping.[87][82] The Scandinavian airline SAS
One of the Stockholm cases was a student at stopped all flights to northern
3
Stockholm University, Campus Kista.[209] One of Italy, in an attempt to curb the
the cases in Scania was a student from Lund spread of the virus.[211]
University,[210] living at one of the student
dormitories.[84]

22 new cases were confirmed; 16 in Stockholm,

The Public Health Agency of
two each in Västra Götaland and Värmland, and
Sweden
one each in Scania and Örebro.[90]
('Folkhälsomyndigheten')
One of the Stockholm cases is a student at expanded testing for Covid-19
4
Campus Manilla in Djurgården, Stockholm. beyond only those who have
Princess Estelle Bernadotte is a student at Campus been in risk areas abroad, to
Manilla, but the Royal Court states she is not the also test cases of pneumonia
infected student.[212] without known cause.[213]

42 new cases were confirmed; 28 in Stockholm,

seven in Scania, three in Värmland, two in Uppsala,
and one each in Västra Götaland and
Gävleborg.[97][214][215][103]
5
Of the five reported Värmland cases to date, one is
a staff at Internationella Engelska Skolan in
Karlstad and one is an employee at TietoEVRY in
Karlstad.[216]

The Swedish Ministry of

Foreign Affairs advised
against all non-necessary
travel to the city of Daegu and
the province of Gyeongbuk in
South Korea.[219]

The Swedish Ministry of

Foreign Affairs advised
against all non-necessary trips
to northern Italy, specifically
the regions of Piemonte,
Liguria, Lombardia, Emilia-
Romagna, Trentino-Alto
Adige, Valle d'Aosta, Veneto,
Friuli Venezia Giulia, Marche
and Toscana.[220] Turin, Milan,
42 new cases were confirmed; two in Västra Venice, Verona, Trieste and
Götaland,[107] five in Scania,[108] eight in Florence are large cities in
Värmland,[101] one in Uppsala,[111] five in these regions. The Public
Jönköping,[112] 21 in Stockholm,[113] and one in Health Agency of Sweden,
Gävleborg.[114] Deputy Sveriges Riksbank governor who initiated the
6 Martin Flodén tested positive on 6 March following recommendation for the
a trip to Italy.[217] One of the Jönköping cases is a Swedish Ministry of Foreign
school bus driver in Gislaved municipality[218] and Affairs, states that the decision
one of the Värmland cases is a staff at is based solely on the strain of
Myndigheten för Samhällsskydd och Beredskap the Italian health care
(MSB).[216] system.[221]

The same day, Swedish

National Broadcaster SVT
held a crisis meeting to
consider broadcasting the live
finals of Melodifestivalen 2020