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Added on the 04/08/2021 12:13:28 - Copyright : Euronews EN
Sweden caught the world's attention when it chose an unconventional approach to dealing with the novel coronavirus pandemic. Choosing to aim for obtaining so-called 'herd immunity,' it imposed no restrictions, lockdowns, or any other mandatory public health precautions. But according to Business Insider, growing case numbers in urban areas like Stockholm and Uppsala have triggered a rethink among public health officials. Now, authorities there will be able to strongly recommend that people avoid public transport, busy public places, and being around the vulnerable and elderly. However, unlike in other countries, there will be no fines or legal consequences for people who decide not to follow any new advice. Sweden's public health agency's legal officer Bitte Brastad said the rules were 'something in between regulations and recommendations.'
Images show people and ambulances at the entrance to Rio de Janeiro's Miguel Couto hospital, in coronavirus-stricken Brazil, as the total confirmed deaths from Covid-19 around the world pass two million. IMAGES
UPI reports new research shows it's a very good idea to insist that healthcare workers get an annual flu shot. That's according to researchers from the University of Georgia, Montana State University and Monash University in Australia. They found that states with mandatory flu shots for hospital workers saw statewide reductions in deaths from influenza and pneumonia. They estimate that during the 2016-17 season alone, nearly 2,000 deaths were averted in the 15 U.S. states that had mandatory vaccination laws at that time. The findings suggest that health-worker vaccination laws may be a good way to protect the country's most vulnerable populations. The researchers say it's possible that similar benefits could also be seen with mandatory COVID-19 vaccination of hospital workers.