New measures to reduce the spread of infection

According to the Public Health Agency of Sweden and the Government, the spread of infection in Sweden is increasing, however, from a low level. A number of recommendations are being introduced to prevent the infection increasing further.

The Public Health Agency of Sweden recommends the following:

• Keep your distance from other people in public settings, especially indoors.
• If possible, adults should avoid crowded public transport by choosing to travel at times other than during rush hour or using other means of transport, such as walking, cycling or travelling by car.
• Adults should use face masks on public transport if crowding cannot be avoided.

Employers are encouraged to:

• Make it easier for employees to get vaccinated and inform them of the importance of staying at home when they have symptoms.
• Enable employees to keep their distance from each other, for example, at meetings, in coffee rooms and changing rooms. Avoid large gatherings indoors with many participants.
• Enable employees to work from home to a certain extent when the work allows.

Those responsible for public transport are recommended to maintain a full service.

Those running a venue serving food and drink are responsible for ensuring that the premises are designed so that crowding can be avoided. According to the Public Health Agency of Sweden’s general advice, this may mean that the person operating the venue can, for example:

• Limit the number of visitors present at the same time in the venue.
• Rearrange furniture or take other measures to create space.
• Mark distances on the floor or in some other way mark which distance visitors should keep from each other.
• Use alternative solutions for queues such as ticketing systems.

The Government has also proposed a number of financial support measures. The measures will be part of an amending budget that the Government will submit to the Swedish parliament (the Riksdag) in the beginning of next year. The measures are intended to apply retroactively from 8 december 2021. 

The following benefits and compensations will be reinstated and extended 8 December 2021–31 March 2022, according to the Government's proposition:

• No medical certificate required for disease carrier's benefit.
• Risk group compensation and some temporary parental benefits for certain children who have recently fallen seriously ill.
• Temporary parental benefit in the event of, among other things, school closure.
• Compensation for employees for scrapped qualifying deductions (as well as equivalent compensation for self-employed persons) to make it easier for people to stay home if they fall ill.
• Compensation for employers for high sick-pay costs.
• Tax exemption for parking benefit extended to reduce congestion on public transport.

Event support allowance is also intended to be extended until 31 March 2022.