Sweden Sees Very High Risk of Local Contagion as Virus Spreads
Sweden Sees Very High Risk of Local Contagion as Virus Spreads
(Bloomberg) --
Sweden’s top health authority said it sees a “very high” risk of domestic contagion after the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in the country soared past 300.
While most Swedes infected with the virus have so far had some form of contact with regions such as northern Italy, authorities have more recently been unable to trace the origin of new cases. That’s prompted the public health agency to raise the risk level.
In a statement on its website, the agency said it sees signs that the virus is now spreading in the capital, Stockholm, and in the area around Gothenburg, Sweden’s second-biggest city. It’s urged people with any symptoms to avoid social contact.
The total number of confirmed cases in Sweden rose to 326 on Tuesday, up from the 248 reported on Monday. More than 200 of those were diagnosed in the Stockholm region.
Earlier on Tuesday, Riksbank governor Stefan Ingves said the central bank can provide liquidity support to companies hit by the virus. Finance Minister Magdalena Andersson has also said the government is ready to take fiscal measures to counter any broader economic downturn.
To contact the reporter on this story: Niclas Rolander in Stockholm at nrolander@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Tasneem Hanfi Brögger at tbrogger@bloomberg.net
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