Sweden lifts restrictions on elderly despite rise in cases

OLD people in Sweden no longer need to isolate themselves, the government said yesterday, pointing to lower Covid infection rates than in spring and a rising toll on the mental health of its elderly as reasons for the new advice.

The move comes as many countries across Europe are reimposing restrictions to try to get to grips with a surge in infections, but the health agency has said it does not see evidence of a second wave in Sweden.

Sweden has t aken a different approach from most other European countries in fighting the pandemic, relying on voluntary measures to promote social distancing, though it did isolate nursing homes after high levels of deaths were recorded among residents.

The number of new cases in the country has risen steadily in recent weeks though they remain at lower levels relative to the size of the population than in many countries in Europe, where records are being set daily.

Sweden has seen about 107,000 cases in total and around 5,900 deaths. It registered 975 new cases on Wednesday and seven additional deaths, far lower than during the spring peak but well above the case load in the summer.

“The Public Health Agency has decided that the elderly will be subject to the same recommendations as the rest of the population,” said Lena Hallengren, the health minister.

Overall, Covid-19 deaths have been many times higher than in its Nordic neighbours, but lower than in some countries that adopted tougher restrictions, such as Spain and Britain.

Until now, those over 70 have been told to avoid physical contact and public transport and to keep away from shops and other public places, measures that officials say cut infection rates but also had a negative impact on the mental well-being of many elderly.

The agency said that with lower infection rates, better knowledge about the disease and a health system no longer under the same pressure as during the spring, the elderly should now follow the general advice to all Swedes. This includes avoiding large gatherings, staying home at the first signs of illness and maintaining social distancing.

But Ms Hallengren warned that the change did not mean a return to normal.

“Daily life cannot be as it was before the pandemic,” she said. “But there are many ways of living that are not just surviving.”

Johan Carlson, the head of the public health agency, said that while the measures for the elderly have had an impact, it was, on balance, not worth keeping them because of the mental and physical impact of isolation. “The group has taken the recommendations from spring seriously. The result is that the rate of illness has reduced and fewer have been admitted to intensive care.

“A large number of lives have been saved, but it is not reasonable that a risk group should carry such a large responsibility in the long run,” he said.

However, Mr Carlson reminded other age groups that everyone needed to follow distancing measures.

“It is not the case that elderly people should start taking the bus as normal. Everyone should act with great care. There will be a risk for individuals. We will see that a few people will get sick, but we have to find a balance,” he said.