Sweden reports its highest daily COVID-19 cases

ANKARA

Sweden announced Thursday its highest number of daily coronavirus cases as 2,820 people tested positive in the past 24 hours.

The total infections stand at 121,167 according to the Swedish Health Agency.

Seven more people lost their lives, bringing the death toll to 5,934.

Sweden, one of the few countries that did not introduce strict lockdown measures but went with public recommendations to stem the spread of the virus, announced new recommendations Thursday for Stockholm as infections continue to rise daily.

Authorities advised residents to refrain from indoor environments such as shops, malls, museums, libraries and gyms. But necessary visits to grocery stores and pharmacies can be made.

“Refrain from participating in, for example, meetings, concerts, performances, sports training, matches and competitions. However, this does not apply to sports training for children and young people born in 2005 or later,” officials said in a statement.

“If possible, avoid having physical contact with people other than those you live with. This means, among other things, a dissuasion from arranging or participating in a party or similar social gathering.”

Sweden has the highest number of COVID-19 cases and death rate among Nordic countries but those numbers are still lower than the worst-hit European nations, including Spain, Italy, France, and the UK.