Swedish cities forbid the wearing of face masks. Why?

Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, the Swedes have adopted different strategies to fight COVID-19 than the rest of Europe and even the world. And it is not only about the reluctance to impose restrictions on citizens. The subject of masks is also controversial – the Swedish authorities are not convinced of this form of protection against the virus. So much so that some cities even forbid to cover the mouth and nose.

1. Swedish authorities have repeatedly emphasized that wearing masks is not helping to fight the pandemic
2. In December, the regulations were tightened for the first time – the Swedes were then recommended to wear masks in public transport
3. However, the latest reports from Sweden indicate a return to the liberal approach – more and more cities forbid the wearing of masks
4. You can find more such stories on the TvoiLokony home page

Swedish cities forbid the wearing of face masks

In Sweden, there are more and more situations where the wearing of masks or covering the face is a source of problems. The authorities of the Halmstad commune have banned the use of masks or helmets in schools. In turn, librarians in the city of Kungsbacka were instructed not to cover their face and nose.

And while such reports may seem shocking, they are in line with the Swedish authorities’ line of action since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Swedish Public Health Agency does not approve of the use of masks as a form of protection against the coronavirus.

Swedes do not want to wear masks

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Swedish Public Health Agency has reported that wearing masks is not recommended by it. Among the arguments against covering the nose and mouth, according to the Swedes, there was the ineffectiveness of this solution, and even its potential harmfulness. There was even an entry on the agency’s website saying that Swedes may not use their masks properly, but this was later removed.

1. See also: Seven myths about masks that you need to forget as soon as possible

At a time when all of Europe began to close, and in most countries covering the mouth and nose became the responsibility of citizens, the Swedes remained in favor of the option without restrictions. However, that changed in December 2020, when the number of COVID-19 infections in Sweden increased to 360, compared to 8. deaths. Due to the significant increase in the incidence, the Swedish Public Health Agency decided to change the approach to the subject of masks.

The country has introduced a recommendation to cover the mouth and nose in public transport. But not in every situation. The suggestion was addressed to people born in 2004 and older, who travel by public transport on working days between 7 am and 9 am and 16 pm and 18 pm and only if they have not reserved a seat for themselves. There is no penalty for non-compliance with the recommendations. Moreover, the rules were so complex that only half of Swedes wore face masks at rush hour.

Masks – yes or no?

In Poland, the issue of wearing masks in public space is also associated with discussions about their effectiveness. They mainly result from the information chaos at the beginning of the pandemic, when the then minister of health, Łukasz Szumowski, first explained that the masks did not protect against the virus, and then recommended their widespread use in the fight against the pandemic.

Later, these ambiguities were dispelled by specialists. The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that the best form of protection against COVID-19 is provided by not one, but two masks worn at the same time.

1. Two masks are better than one? Scientists checked

The CDC conducted a study which found that a person wearing one mask, either surgical or cotton, was 40 percent. protected against ingress of particles. However, when the second mask was put on, the effectiveness increased by 100%. Therefore, more and more experts recommend that this is how you protect yourself against COVID-19.

Also read:

1. It is a myth that you cannot ‘catch’ the coronavirus outdoors. Here are the rules that must be followed
2. The number of people infected with the coronavirus is growing. Dr. Sutkowski: It may be related to a lack of discipline
3. The UK variant of the coronavirus is spreading rapidly across Europe. Most cases in Great Britain, Italy and Sweden
4. The Czech Republic at the forefront of COVID-19 infections. What’s happening at our neighbor’s?
5. These factors will determine the course of the pandemic. IHME: The next four months will be crucial

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