The Swedish Public Health Agency is expected to make a decision soon on whether those who live with a person infected with covid-19 should be subject to stricter restrictions.
When the spread of infection is low, it can work that more people stay at home, according to the Swedish Public Health Agency.
– Previously, it was such a large infection that it could have affected society negatively. I do not think that infection control and treating doctors had the opportunity to make these decisions before, but now it is a favorable situation and we will see if we can make this recommendation to reduce the infection further, says Bitte Bråstad, General Counsel at the Public Health Agency.
Today, people who may have been infected by someone with confirmed covid-19 according to the Public Health Agency’s guidelines on infection tracing, avoid close contacts with others during the incubation period of two weeks. But now it is being investigated whether treating doctors should be recommended to decide that people over the age of 16 who live in the same household as an infected person should stay at home and, for example, not go to work.
The possibility is found in the Infection Control Act. If a person violates the rules of conduct, the attending physician can turn to the infection control physician who can decide on stricter restrictions such as isolation. However, the control possibilities are limited.
– No, we have no supervision, but it is based on voluntariness. I think most people will follow the rules of conduct, because you do not want to infect others. Of course, there are always those who do not follow the legislation, but then it probably does not matter what control options we have either, says Bitte Bråstad.
According to the Swedish Public Health Agency The largest spread of infection occurs in the home, and the current investigation aims to make it easier for people to stay at home. A doctor’s decision on rules of conduct gives the right to carrier compensation from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency.
– It is to provide conditions for those who can not work from home, if someone in the household is infected, says Bitte Bråstad.
She emphasizes that the investigation is ongoing and that nothing is clear, but a decision is expected within the next few weeks.
– We must look at all aspects, and that the infection control experts see that the situation in the country means that it also works for society.
Source: ICELAND NEWS