Centre For Local Research into Public Space (CELOS)
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You are on the [Sweden Letter Sept 7] page of folder [Background Research]
For the cover page of this folder go to the Sweden letter from Deborah, Sept.7, 2021
There have been mixed signals during the last few press conferences - a hard push for vaccines, but not a lot of concern about increasing cases, hospitalizations and ICU numbers - yes the numbers are going up, but very slowly. I follow some smart Israel epidemiologists on Twitter, and they predicted that delta would burn out early September in Sweden and I think we are beginning to see that. (I’ve also noticed here too that the number of people who have been vaccinated in the ICU is increasing, about 30% as well, our numbers are so similar to yours!)
And then good news today! We are getting rid of most of our outstanding restrictions and recommendations - no limits on public gatherings, no limits on the number of people at tables in restaurants, and it is time for people to get back to their offices. They talk about lifting further restrictions in step 5 (the final step), but the only thing that comes to mind are border controls, which seem more political than anything. “C19 is a disease we must learn to live with”. A reminder: no vaxports here and this will make the case for them even weaker, and yes the political parties here, in contrast to the Public Health Agency, are itching for them. I wonder if the Public Health Agency came out with this press release to nip that political discussion in the bud…. There has certainly been tension between the two.
Even though the Public Health Agency is talking tough about “the call to get vaccinated”, anecdotal evidence suggests that most vaccination centres are pretty empty now. There is an oversupply issue too, putting pressure on the Public Health Agency to hurry up and recommend vaccines to 12-15 year olds. But as Tegnell says “we don’t make vaccination decisions based on availability". This led a journalist to start yelling at him during a recent press conference “those vaccines are going to waste and its on your head Tegnell!” My husband also tells me that certain frustrated parents are flying to Croatia to get their kids vaccinated there.
Here’s the press release:
"The Swedish Public Health Agency makes an overall assessment that the government should proceed with the plan to lift the restrictions to step 4 on 29 September 2021. For example, the restrictions on how many people can participate in a public gathering or a public event and the requirement for seated serving in restaurants is removed. The Swedish Public Health Agency's general advice on working from home is also removed and a gradual return to the workplace can begin.
The Public Health Agency's overall assessment is based primarily on the increasing vaccination coverage. Healthcare burden, mortality and an assessment of the risk of increasing the spread of infection are also taken into account.
The call to get vaccinated remains and a high level of vaccination coverage is the most important prerequisite for later being able to lift further restrictions.
- More people need to be vaccinated at all ages, and this is especially true among younger adults and middle-aged people and in certain other groups where vaccination coverage is low. Overall, we have good vaccination coverage and it will increase in September, while the number of cases of serious illness and the number of deaths have reached lower levels. It is therefore time to continue lifting the restrictions, says Johan Carlson, CEO.
The Swedish Public Health Agency considers that covid-19 is a disease that we must learn to live with in society and the work with testing and infection tracking in the regions must continue. Should the development turn to critical levels, there is a readiness to introduce restrictions again.
- Vaccination is the most effective tool we have. The important work of reaching people and groups who have not yet been vaccinated must therefore continue, says Johan Carlson."
Back to front page of Letters from Sweden.