On December 23 more infection control measures were introduced by the Swedish Government.

This is due to the increased community transmission of COVID-19 and the increased burden on health and medical care services.

Measures being introduced on December 23

Indoor public gatherings and events with more than 20 participants may only have a seated audience regardless of whether or not vaccination certificates are used.

Without vaccination certificates, the size of groups is limited to a maximum of eight people, with a distance of one metre between groups. There is an exemption for religious gatherings.

Indoor public gatherings and events with more than 500 participants require vaccination certificates and the size of groups is limited to a maximum of eight people, with a distance of one metre between groups.

This means that indoor public gatherings and events with more than 500 participants cannot be organised without vaccination certificates.

The requirements for eating and drinking establishments are that guests must be seated and that there is a distance of one meter between groups. This also applies for night clubs.

The requirement for indoor trade fairs and shopping centres is that there must be at least 10 square meters per person.

The requirement for indoor cultural and recreational activities, such as museums, art galleries and gyms, is that there must be at least 10 square meters per person, except for activities such as training, competitions, etc. intended for children and young people born in 2002 or later.

Between December 23 and January 16, 2022, cultural, sport and recreation associations are advised not to organise or take part in camps, sports cups or other larger indoor activities that involve participants who do not normally meet.

Individual activities, matches and one-day competitions such as league matches or the equivalent may be conducted. This advice does not apply to professional sport.

General advice on working from home will be reintroduced.

Infection control measures are recommended for adult education in order to avoid crowding and large gatherings.

The general rule is for education to be conducted on an in-person basis, but higher education institutions may use distance learning as a tool to prevent crowding at teaching premises.

Instructions to government agencies on working from home

Workplaces are a major source of infection. At its meeting on December 22, the government adopted stricter instructions to government agencies.

Government agencies must ensure that only employees whose physical presence is necessary to conduct business are present in their premises.

These stricter instructions on working from home will apply until January 31, 2022.

Possible further measures 

The Public Health Agency of Sweden has also submitted requests to the government that a limit of 50 participants should be introduced for indoor premises that can be used or made available for private gatherings, that a requirement on infection control measures should be introduced for long-distance public transport, and that a negative COVID-19 test not older than 48 hours should be required for foreign nationals to enter Sweden. The government intends to consider these requests speedily.

Background

Recent weeks have seen a rapid increase in the spread of COVID-19 and also a greater burden on health and medical services. This is occurring at the same time as the circulation of other respiratory infections such as influenza and RS viruses is greater than in many years.

On December 7, the government presented an action plan for introducing infection control measures. Through the plan, the government hopes to create increased transparency and clarity before other possible measures are introduced.