Swedish Government Given Extra Powers to Fight Coronavirus
Swedish Government Given Extra Powers to Fight Coronavirus
(Bloomberg) -- Sweden’s government is getting additional powers to quickly push through measures designed to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
The Social Democrat-led government has ensured enough backing from parliament for temporary measures that reach beyond the current legislation. The idea is to protect vulnerable groups and ensure capacity and resources for the health care system, Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said at a press conference Tuesday.
“This is only for measures related to the coronavirus and it is only for a limited time,” Lofven said.
Possible actions include the closing of shopping malls and other market places, limits to the size of crowds, the shutdown of transport and the redistribution of medicines and medical equipment. The law will be active from April 18 throughout June.
Sweden has been slower than its Nordic neighbors in taking drastic action. But Lofven recently conceded he’ll need to review his response, after new forecasts showed that thousands of his countrymen will lose their lives to Covid-19.
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