Thread by @fredwalton216

Key highlights :
1) 5,938 have now died with covid-19 in Sweden, which is an increase of 5 deaths compared to last week (30 deaths adjusted off by Sweden Public Health Agency).

https://twitter.com/emanuelkarlsten/status/1323017193152520193

2) The number of deaths is at a relatively low and stable level , but the number admitted to IVA is looking steeply upwards, even though it is slightly less steep than last week and is still about comparatively low numbers.

3) The worst is the infection. The Swedish Public Health Agency reports controlled figures with a one-week lag and week 43 is the highest ever record of number of confirmed infections in a week (9,163 cases), an increase of 63 percent compared with the week before.

4) It's also highest number of tests since start, a total of 164K. Increased demand can be partly explained by fact that common cold viruses have increased again in Sweden in recent weeks-but in general more & more tests are positive: 5.6 % positive, compared to 3.9% week before;

5) Infection (》) in all age groups, but oldest & youngest age groups do best. 70+ have the smallest increase among age groups. It is too early to say that it would have to do w/eased restrictions for age group, but this week, decision to ease them has received harsh criticism;

6) The statistics also show worrying trends among children, especially in their late teens. Despite this, new research shows that children in particular are not an engine for the spread of infection , but mostly follow the general state of infection.

7) Perhaps the worst is the tendency for the infection to increase in nursing homes, as well. This is three weeks after the national ban on visiting homes was lifted

8) Week 44 looks set to set further records.The week has so far only been compiled until half of Thursday, but already has more cases than week before. Below is a graph of reported confirmed cases, day by day during the last three weeks - where week 44 has only been reported....

8 cont) until halfway through Thursday.

9) It's on this basis that 4 more regions have applied handbrake. Not because situation is worse than last spring, but primarily because regions' test & infection tracking capacity has reached its ceiling, Anders Tegnell explained to Aktuellt.

10) Skåne was first and already decided on Monday to introduce strong restrictions , after a sharp increase in week 43.

11) Stockholm, Västra Götaland & Östergötland followed on TH. Stockholm's the region with most cases. Västra Götaland has about half as many, but a strong development. And in Östergötland you have perhaps the strongest upward curve, at least measured in a single day.

12) The new recommendations are valid for at least 3 weeks & are in short about adults should:
- Refrain from indoor environments
- Refrain from meetings and training
- If possible, avoid having physical contact with others than those you live with.

13) In Skåne, in addition to house mates, you can also socialize w/"those you meet every week", but in other regions, it's emphasized, advice is harsh as it sounds. In Västra Götaland, the infection control doctor clarifies that "physical contact" means contact closer than 1.5 m.

14) To avoid all dinners & private events. Despite this, cinemas & shopping centers continue to be open (even though ceiling of 300 has been lowered to 50.) But state epidemiologist Tegnell doesn't think people generally have hard time understanding message: Meet fewer people.

15) Sweden's Minister of Health threatened this week that the measures are only the beginning if we do not tighten up.

16) Despite the warning, it has been crowded on the streets of big cities after councils, as well as at the notorious inauguration of "golden bridge" in Stockholm . Even the planes to holiday paradise have been packed.

17) Swedes have record high confidence in Anders Tegnell . He has 72% of Swedes' confidence, higher than previous record of 68% in April. The Swedish Public Health Agency polled at 68%. In general, trust seems to follow the development of spread of infection.

18) Sweden can get a vaccine already at the beginning of 2021 - if everything goes according to plan. This week, Sweden's vaccine coordinator told TV4 . And November will be a critical month, that's when we know when the first vaccines will arrive.

19) Other researchers warn that it is not certain whether the first vaccines will work well . At the same time, the willingness to get vaccinated in Sweden is decreasing, now almost every fifth Swede says no.