Authorities in Sweden, Poland, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates have announced an easing in coronavirus restrictions as the global number of infections since the start of the pandemic surpassed 400 million.
On Wednesday, Sweden scrapped almost all of its few restrictions and stopped most testing for COVID-19.
Sweden’s government announced last week it would scrap the remaining restrictions – effectively declaring the pandemic over – as vaccines and the less severe Omicron variant have cushioned severe cases and deaths.
“As we know this pandemic, I would say it’s over,” Minister of Health Lena Hallengren told Dagens Nyheter.
“It’s not over, but as we know it in terms of quick changes and restrictions it is,” she said, adding that COVID-19 would no longer be classified as a danger to society.
The move puts Sweden at odds with most of Europe but some experts say it could become the norm as costly testing yields fewer benefits with the easily transmissible but milder Omicron variant and as governments begin to consider treating COVID-19 like they do other endemic illnesses.
In the UK, instead of dropping all testing requirements, authorities are relying on testing in addition to vaccination to help enable people to return to normal life.
The government has also made rapid tests freely available and encouraged people to test themselves before potentially risky gatherings, hoping that knowing their status will curb COVID-19 transmission.
On Wednesday, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson signalled his intention to remove the need to isolate after a positive COVID-19 test at the end of February. However, it would still be advised.
The United Arab Emirates will gradually lift restrictions as the number of infections and hospitalisations has gone down, the state news agency WAM reported on Wednesday.
Venues will be allowed to function at maximum capacity by mid-February, it said.
Meanwhile, the Polish health minister said on Wednesday that an end to the COVID-19 pandemic was in sight as he announced a cut to the isolation period for infected people and looser quarantine rules.
“We are dealing with the beginning of the end of the pandemic,” Adam Niedzielski told a news conference.
Source: AAP