Sweden is set to remove all COVID-19 restrictions by February 9, the Swedish government announced Thursday, following the high vaccination rates among its population, according to German Press Agency (Dpa).
The decision comes as a result of the management of hospital admissions, despite the significant increase in COVID-19 cases.
Swedish Prime Minister, Magdalena Andersson stated during a press conference in Stockholm, “It is time to open up again in Sweden,” she said, adding, “the pandemic is not over yet, but it is underway to a new stage.”
Sweden follows in the footsteps of other European countries, including the UK, Ireland, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Italy, Switzerland, and France, in a move to coexist with the virus.
While it is dropping COVID-related restrictions, the Swedish government said it will still maintain some recommendations. Unvaccinated Swedes should still avoid crowded places and anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 should stay at home, the government said.
The UK was the first country to make such a decision on January 19, considering the COVID-19 just like the seasonal flu.
As of yesterday, France began lifting some of its COVID-19 restrictions, including removing the mask mandate and no longer making remote work mandatory, although it is still recommended.
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