Stricter guidelines for Skåne County

These guidelines apply until December 13 but may be extended.

The rate at which Covid-19 is spreading in the Skåne region is alarming. A growing number of patients are being admitted to hospitals, and several sheltered housing centres are being investigated for Covid-19. The whole county is affected. This is why additional measures are now required, in addition to those based on the Public Health Agency’s general guidelines that apply to the whole country.

After consulting with the Region Skåne infectious diseases physician, the Public Health Agency has adopted stricter general guidelines for the area. The stricter guidelines apply for a limited period and are intended to further slow down the local outbreak.

As of 27 October, everyone in Skåne County is encouraged to:

• avoid using public transport. Essential travel, e.g. to a job that requires presence in person, is still allowed.
• avoid visiting indoor environments such as shops, shopping centres, museums, libraries, swimming pools and gyms. Essential visits to e.g. supermarkets and pharmacies can be made.
• avoid attending meetings, concerts, performances, sports training, matches and competitions. This does not apply to sports training for children and youth born in or after 2005.
• if possible, avoid physical contact with other people than those in their household. This also means not arranging or taking part in parties or similar social activities.

Necessary contacts such as visits to a doctor or medical examinations are excluded from this guideline. However, anyone with symptoms that could be Covid-19 must avoid all close contact with others.

This guideline also means stricter rules for e.g. shops, shopping centres and sports facilities in Skåne County, as well as for places of work. They are all expected to take measures to e.g. reduce the number of simultaneous visitors. Employers are encouraged to enable staff to work from home to a greater extent than is already the case.

As of 19 October, the Public Health Agency has the mandate to adopt local guidelines. Local guidelines started to apply in Uppsala County on 20 October, and Skåne is the second county to have local guidelines.