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Sweden Plans Covid Pass for Events With More Than 100 People

Swedish Health Agency Wants Covid Pass for Larger Events

Sweden is preparing to introduce admission restrictions on events with more than 100 people, in the first step toward a tightening since the biggest Nordic economy removed most measures in late September.

From Dec. 1, it should be possible for event organizers to require Covid passes at entry, Healthcare Minister Lena Hallengren said at a news conference. Organizers who choose not to check attendees’ vaccination status face restrictions that could limit the number of people allowed. The measure comes as parts of Northern Europe have seen cases soar to record levels

While Swedish hospitalizations are far from previous peaks, a 22% increase in the past month has authorities concerned about a potential worsening. As the continent has once again become a hot-spot for virus transmission, Germany is preparing tougher measures, Austria has introduced curbs for unvaccinated people and the Netherlands implemented a partial lockdown.

“We still haven’t seen the increase that other countries have experienced, but we can’t sit still and hope for the best,” Karin Tegmark-Wisell, director-general of Sweden’s Public Health Agency, said. “We expect that transmission will increase here as well, and that’s what our scenarios show. Hence, we want to take measures now to curb that increase.”  

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