Swedes urged to cancel Easter travel plans as coronavirus death toll rises

Swedish authorities on Monday appealed to citizens to refrain from traveling during the Easter holidays as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the country has surpassed 4,000 and the death toll has risen to 146.

The community spread of the coronavirus has started across Sweden with a total of 306 patients being treated in intensive care units. The pressure on hospitals is particularly high in the Stockholm region, Sweden's Public Health Agency said at its daily press briefing on Monday.

"If you experience just the slightest sign of illness you must stay at home," said state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell.

Speaking at the same press conference, Taha Alexandersson of the National Board of Health and Welfare appealed to Swedes to remain in their respective home regions over the Easter holidays in order to avoid spreading the virus and overwhelming local healthcare services.

Alexandersson said that many want to see the authorities issue rulings, "but," she said, "we don't work that way. We issue appeals."

Alexandersson's comments came after Sweden had generated international attention for taking a more lenient approach to stemming the coronavirus pandemic than other countries in Europe. Instead of enforcing quarantines and ordering mass shutdowns of schools and commerce, the government tends to lean on the Public Health Agency's advice and the agency, in turn, encourages people to take personal responsibility for social distancing.

When Prime Minister Stefan Lofven announced on March 27 that Sweden's ban on public gatherings would be tightened from a maximum of 500 people to a maximum of 50, he also said that each citizen must "do their duty and follow the authorities' recommendations." He called it a matter of common sense, adding that one cannot "legislate about everything."

Asked on Monday if there are plans to introduce mass testing for COVID-19, epidemiologist Tegnell said: "We are working with the regional boards on how to test more and more people ... There is most certainly the potential to test even more but it has to be carried out in an organized manner."

Tegnell said that the Public Health Agency is due to meet with representatives of the regional boards and "major actors" to discuss how to roll out testing without taking resources away from the already strained health sector.

Also on Monday, the Swedish government presented new measures to support those who have lost their jobs amid the coronavirus crisis, as outlined in a statement on the government website. The emergency package includes an extended budget for the Swedish Employment Agency, subsidized jobs within municipalities, funds for courses aimed at helping people get back to work, plus more lenient rules for accessing unemployment benefits.