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

The Government decided today to introduce temporary entry restrictions on travel from China. This means that travellers from China need to present a negative COVID-19 test result to enter Sweden. The test requirement applies as of 7 January.

The lifting of exit restrictions from China, combined with the increased and widespread spread of COVID-19 in the country, has raised the question of introducing entry restrictions, including in Europe. Sweden is now preparing to introduce certain such restrictions requiring a negative COVID-19 test. Travellers from China need to be prepared for decisions being taken at short notice.

In July 2020, EU heads of state and government agreed on a recovery package to mitigate the effects of the crisis. The package, called NextGenerationEU, comprises EUR 750 billion in loans and grants to the Member States. The main part of this will be channelled through the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF).

Since the infection started to spread, the Government and the Riksdag have taken a large number of measures to safeguard people’s lives, health and livelihoods. At the same time a powerful green restart of the Swedish economy is being implemented. In all, the economic measures taken are worth almost SEK 400 billion for 2020 and 2021. This corresponds to around SEK 40 000 per inhabitant. In addition, around SEK 1 000 billion has been made available in various forms of loans and guarantees.

The COVID-19 pandemic presents an unprecedented global crisis. The worldwide spread of the virus highlights the importance of collaboration and solidarity in tackling global challenges, leaving no one behind. Sweden continues to stand up for international principles and commitments and to support multilateral organisations working to fight the pandemic and its impacts. This is in line with Sweden’s work and ambitions to meet the 2030 Agenda. With a well-considered response, the international community can together lay the foundations for a more sustainable, equitable and gender-equal world that will be better equipped to manage future crises.

In the interim report Elderly care during the pandemic, the Corona Commission reports on what it considers to be the most important reasons for the large spread of infection and the high death rates among the elderly in Sweden.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs decided today to extend the advice against non-essential travel to Estonia, Ireland and Latvia until 2 December.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs (MFA) has today, 9 November, decided to extend its advice against non-essential travel to all countries outside the EU/EEA/Schengen area as well as the United Kingdom until 31 January 2021.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs decided yesterday to lift the advice against non-essential travel to Lithuania. The decision comes into force today.

A Committee of Inquiry in the form of a Commission will be tasked with evaluating the measures taken by the Government, the administrative agencies concerned, the regions and the municipalities to limit the spread of the virus that causes the disease COVID-19 and the effects of its spread.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs decided yesterday to extend the advice against non-essential travel to Estonia, Ireland, Latvia and Lithuania until 4 November.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has decided to lift the advice against non-essential travel to Malta and Slovenia. The decision comes into force on 8 October.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has decided to lift the advice against non-essential travel to Finland and Slovakia. The decision comes into force today.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs decided today to lift the advice against non-essential travel to the United Kingdom. The decision comes into force with immediate effect.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs is lifting its advice against non-essential travel to Cyprus. The decision enters into force on 10 September. The easing of restrictions that have applied to Swedish travellers has been taken into account in the assessment leading to the decision.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs is lifting its advice against non-essential travel to Austria and Liechtenstein. The decision enters into force on 13 August.

In light of the continued uncertainty regarding international travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the MFA has extended the advice against non-essential travel from Sweden to all countries that was decided on 14 March 2020 until 15 July 2020. For countries or areas to which the MFA had advised against travel before 14 March 2020, these decisions still apply. The decision to extend the advice against non-essential travel from Sweden to all countries was taken on 13 May 2020. With this extension, the advice against travel applies until 15 July 2020.

In the light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the undersigned chairs and members of the Groups of Friends on the Safety/Protection of Journalists are calling on all states to protect journalists’ and media workers’ safety, safeguard a free and independent media and ensure unhindered access to information, both online and offline.

In light of the extensive spread of the COVID-19 virus and the rapidly changing and uncertain situation for travellers, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs has extended the decision it took on 14 March 2020 to advise against non-essential travel to all countries so that it applies until 15 June 2020.