Sweden’s prime minister goes into self-isolation as lockdown measures increase

Sweden's Prime Minister Stefan Lofven 

Credit: Reuters

Sweden’s prime minister has gone into self-isolation as the number of deaths from coronavirus in the country passes the 6,000 milestone.

Stefan Lofven announced on Thursday morning that he had gone into self-isolation along with his wife Ulla, after coming into contact with someone who had later tested positive for coronavirus. He would continue working remotely, he said.

"We’re both feeling fine and have no symptoms and are going to get tested as soon as possible, in accordance with the recommendations of the health authorities," Mr Lofven wrote on his Facebook page.  

Mr Lofven’s isolation came as the number of deaths in the country due to coronavirus reached 6,002, with three new deaths confirmed over the past two days.

"The development is going in the wrong direction. More are getting infected, more are dying," he wrote. "It’s a serious situation."

Thomas Linden, a division chief at the Swedish Board of Health and Welfare, warned at a press conference that a "significant increase" in the number of patients being treated for coronavirus risked overwhelming the health system.

"If you’ve planned a dinner party for a lot of people at home, cancel it. Cancel the party at your friend’s house, and your board meeting," he said. "The health system cannot forever keep compensating for you all taking too many freedoms."

He said 90 people were being treated for coronavirus in intensive care on Thursday, up from 50 last week, with 661 people in total being treated in hospital.

To help reduce the spread, the Public Health Agency of Sweden on Thursday issued tough new local recommendations to two new regions, Sormland, south of Stockholm, and Kronoberg in central southern Sweden. It takes the total number of regions with special local restrictions to ten.

Coronavirus Sweden Spotlight Chart — Cases default

The new local recommendations are much more far-reaching than those Sweden issued in the first wave of infections, with people advised, if possible, to avoid indoor environments such as shopping centres, museums, libraries, swimming pools and gyms. They should also steer clear of meetings, concerts, shows, sports training, matches and competitions, and, in some areas, avoid public transport.

The special recommendations are imposed for either two or three weeks, with the possibility of being extended.

Mr Lofven went into isolation just one day after his Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen.

Ms Frederiksen on Wednesday announced that she was in isolation and awaiting the result of a coronavirus test, later that day announcing that she had tested negative.

Denmark on Thursday announced that it was culling 15 million to 17 million minks after identifying a new mutant variant of coronavirus that some warned risked making the country the centre of a new epidemic, like Wuhan in China.

According to the AFP newswire, Danish health authorities have concluded that the mutated virus "is not inhibited by antibodies to the same degree as the normal virus".

"Studies have shown that the mutations may affect the current candidates for a Covid-19 vaccine," health minister Magnus Heunicke said.

"It is a threat to the development of coronavirus vaccines. That is why it is important that we make a national effort."