Sweden

Sweden’s first case of COVID-19 was confirmed on 31 January 2020 after a woman returning from Wuhan, China, tested positive. By mid March the first cases of community transmission were confirmed, as was the first fatality. Unlike many countries, Sweden has not imposed a lockdown, instead focusing on voluntary measures. The Swedish constitution prohibits ministerial rule but following Public Health Agency recommendations it has implemented physical distancing measures, including banning large gatherings and closing secondary schools and universities.

Key statistics

  • Confirmed cases

    27,272

  • Cases per 100,000 people

    263.92

  • Deaths

    3,313

  • Recovered cases

    4,971

  • Days since first case

    103

  • Days since 100 cases

    68

  • Days since highest daily increase

    19

These statistics were last updated for 15 May 2020 and are drawn from the Coronavirus COVID-19 Daily Cases dataset, published by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at John Hopkins University, via API by Laeyoung.

Government of Sweden COVID-19 policies

Last updated 22 April 2020

Households

Wage and income support

17 April 2020
Redirected funds to support unemployed people and those with reduced working hours
16 March 2020
Created scheme to support short term reductions in working hours
13 March 2020
Reduced time required to access paid sick leave

Government

Education

17 April 2020
Redirected funds to support unemployed people and those with reduced working hours
17 March 2020
Recommended secondary and tertiary education institutions teach remotely

Public services

16 April 2020
Removed requirement for foreign aid charities to partially self-fund in order to receive development support
11 March 2020
Increased funding for health and welfare agencies

International cooperation

16 April 2020
Removed requirement for foreign aid charities to partially self-fund in order to receive development support
02 April 2020
Contributed to the UN’s humanitarian response to Covid-19
24 February 2020
Contributed to WHO emergency fund

Movement of people

Border measures

16 April 2020
Extended border closure for non-essential travel to Sweden from outside EEA and Switzerland
17 March 2020
Closed borders for non-essential travel to Sweden from countries outside the EEA and Switzerland
14 March 2020
Advised against all non-essential international travel
02 March 2020
Banned Iran Air from flying from Iran to Sweden

Domestic travel

06 April 2020
Financed domestic flights on critical domestic routes

Citizens abroad

02 April 2020
Further increased funding to consular services to assist Swedes abroad
25 March 2020
Increased funding to consular services to assist Swedes abroad

Physical distancing

31 March 2020
Banned visits to aged care facilities
27 March 2020
Banned public gatherings and events with more than 50 participants
26 March 2020
Changed laws around annual general meetings to facilitate remote participation
24 March 2020
Recommended against crowding in restaurants and pubs
17 March 2020
Recommended secondary and tertiary education institutions teach remotely
13 March 2020
Banned public gatherings and events with more than 500 participants

Healthcare

Medical products and medicines

02 April 2020
Allowed disinfectant to be imported and used in Sweden without labelling in Swedish
01 April 2020
Limited amount of prescription drugs that can be collected per person
18 March 2020
Allowed non-CE-marked protective masks to be used where necessary
16 March 2020
Centralised purchase of protective equipment and testing materials

Testing and tracing

31 March 2020
Expanded testing capacity

Health services

11 March 2020
Increased funding for health and welfare agencies

Economy

Industry interventions

26 March 2020
Paid landlords to reduce rent for vulnerable businesses
20 March 2020
Provided subsidy to culture and sports sectors
17 March 2020
Expanded state credit guarantees to airlines

Business support

26 March 2020
Paid landlords to reduce rent for vulnerable businesses
25 March 2020
Reduced employers' required social security contribution
25 March 2020
Guaranteed loans for small and medium sized businesses
25 March 2020
Provided temporary tax cuts to sole proprietors
20 March 2020
Provided capital for lending to companies
16 March 2020
Allowed companies to defer VAT and employer’s cost payments
13 March 2020
Reduced time required to access paid sick leave

Financial markets and monetary policy

16 March 2020
Increased purchases of securities by the central bank
13 March 2020
Provided lending from central bank to companies via private banks

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