On Thursday the country also introduced restrictions on nightclubs, with Prime Minister Stefan Lofven admonishing Swedes "that the party is over now in nightclubs, and it needs to stay that way for as long as necessary".
Yet Sweden remains one of the only countries in the world that still does not recommend face masks, arguing they provide a false sense of security that undermines social distancing efforts.
Life goes on
In the capital Stockholm, daily life appears to carry on almost as normal, as locals stroll through the city bundled up against the chilly autumn weather and stopping in at cafes, restaurants and shops that have remained open throughout the pandemic.
And while images in the media occasionally show crowded city buses and restaurants, surveys by the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency found that 80 percent of Swedes have changed their behaviour as a result of recommendations.
They are working from home or limiting social contacts—even though there are no fines or sanctions for disregarding them. ...snip... On Thursday, the government also lifted its special recommendation in place since April for people over the age of 70 and risk groups to shield themselves.
There were concerns the measure was isolating them too much and leading to other public health issues like depression and loneliness.
Those groups had been urged to avoid shops, public transport and any place where groups of people gather.
Earlier this month, the government also lifted its ban on visits to nursing homes—one of the rare restrictions introduced during the pandemic.
