The Coronavirus is a danger to society – 360 people have died
Kristianstad
Ten Swedes have been evacuated from Wuhan, China. This is where the infection was first discovered. But none of the Swedes are infected according to the Public Health Agency of Sweden.
The first case of the coronavirus was discovered in Sweden in Jönköping. It's a woman in her 20s. She has been isolated.
The risk of people in Skåne being infected is very low. But the hospitals in northeast Skåne are still prepared in case they should receive any cases.
– We know how it infects and we know how to take care of it. We’re training logistics and personnel on a regular basis, says Staffan Banke, Chief Physician and Operations Manager at the infection clinic, CSK.
The government has now classified the coronavirus as dangerous and a public health hazard.
That decision was made during an extraordinary session held on Saturday. The request came from the Public Health Agency of Sweden. This does not mean that they think the virus is more dangerous than before, but it’s about preparedness and how it should work.
– We want the virus to be classified as dangerous, which means that you can, for example, make requirements on examinations. We also want it to be classified as a public health hazard, which allows us to cordon off larger areas and make decisions about quarantine, said Johan Carlson, Director General of the Public Health Agency of Sweden, on Friday.
Ebola, SARS and smallpox are also classified as dangerous and a public health hazard.
Public health hazard means a dangerous diseases that can spread in the community and seriously interfere with important social functions.
Swedish researchers are working on vaccines against the coronavirus.
Corona virus
The coronavirus belongs to a group of viruses that causes, among other things, diseases among birds, mammals, and humans. In humans, they cause colds with sore throat and cough, sometimes pneumonia. Usually, the symptoms are mild, but in rare cases, the disease can be fatal.
