Sweden to ban sale of alcohol after 10pm to curb COVID-19

A law proposed to Sweden parliament would ban the nationwide sale of alcohol after 10 pm in bars, restaurants and night clubs from November 20 in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19.

“We are facing a (COVID-19) situation that risks becoming pitch-black," Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said.

“(Sweden) currently is risking a situation like the one we had last spring.”

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The country has witnessed record numbers of new coronavirus infections in past weeks, which is burdening the country's health care system and intensive care wards.

“All indications point in the wrong direction,” Lofven said at a joint news conference with Social Affairs Minister Lena Hallengren.

Ms Hallengren said all places with a permission to serve alcohol must close 30 minutes after 10 pm, and described these places — particularly bars and night clubs — as “risk environments.”

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Earlier on Wednesday, the Swedish capital reintroduced a ban on visiting elderly care homes after a coronavirus spike was reported in retirement facilities in Stockholm.

This comes after Sweden, which has opted to keep parts of its society open, lifted a national ban on visiting elderly care homes in September, saying the need for a restraining order there had decreased.

Overall, the country of 10 million has now reported 166,707 cases and 6082 deaths since the start of the pandemic.