The Government’s work in response to the virus responsible for COVID-19

Prime Minister Stefan Löfven will meet the other EU heads of state and government during a two-day video summit on 25–26 February. The EU leaders will discuss COVID-19 and vaccine coordination on Thursday. On Friday, they will discuss foreign and security policy and relations with the EU’s Southern Neighbourhood

The Government previously announced that turnover-based support for sole traders would be extended until the end of April 2021. Today, the Government can announce that in connection with the extension of the turnover-based support for sole traders, a possibility will be introduced for sole traders who have received unemployment benefit during the support period in their application and sole traders who have taken parental leave or sick leave during the reference period to also access the extended turnover-based support.

Sweden is still in an extraordinary situation. The spread of infection with the virus that causes the disease COVID-19 is still at a very high level and health care is still under strain.

The Government intends to provide an additional SEK 100 million in grants to COVAX to make COVID-19 vaccines accessible in low and middle income countries. This means that Sweden is doubling its support to the COVAX global vaccine access initiative.

The Government has decided on a general entry ban for foreign citizens who cannot present a negative test result for ongoing COVID-19 infection upon entry into Sweden. The rules include certain exemptions. There is already a temporary ban on non-essential travel from other countries to the EU via Sweden. Following a call from the European Council and the European Commission, the entry ban was introduced to mitigate the effects of the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and reduce the outbreak of COVID-19. In accordance with recommendations from the European Commission and the Council, the entry ban has been extended and amended several times. It currently remains in effect until 31 March 2021.

The Government has adopted a separate ban on entry into Sweden from EEA states and certain other states. A requirement to present a negative test result for ongoing COVID-19 infection upon entry from these states applies – with certain exemptions. The existing decision substantially restricting the possibilities to travel to Sweden from Denmark, Norway and the United Kingdom still applies. It has also been tightened with the addition of a negative COVID-19 test requirement for groups that are exempt from the entry ban. The entry bans apply until 31 March 2021 or until further notice. The reason behind the adoption of an entry ban from these countries is to prevent a new variant of the virus that causes COVID-19 entering the country or being spread to other countries.

The situation facing the package tour industry is serious. The pandemic has created a situation in which many travellers have not received refunds for trips that have been cancelled by either party or cut short. The Government has therefore adopted an ordinance on a government loan to package tour operators to enable them to repay their outstanding debts to travellers.

The Government today decided that foreign nationals will have to present a negative test result for ongoing COVID-19 infection upon entry into Sweden, regardless of where they are arriving from. The aim is to reduce the risk of spreading the new variants of the COVID-19 virus that have been detected in a number of countries.

The Swedish Government decided today on certain amendments to the ban on entering Sweden from the United Kingdom, Norway and Denmark. The amendments include an exemption from the entry ban for people who are to receive certain types of care in Sweden.

The Government decided today (24 January) to expand the temporary entry ban that has been in effect for Denmark to also include Norway. The entry ban enters into force at midnight on Sunday 24 January and remains in effect until 14 February. Today’s government decision also means that the temporary ban on entry from Denmark and the United Kingdom has been extended until 14 February 2021. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has also decided today to reinstate the advice against unnecessary travel to Norway.