Sweden lifts travel warning for four European countries

Sweden will lift a travel warning for four European countries introduced over the coronavirus outbreak, the Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

Denmark, Norway, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland were as of Thursday to be added to over a dozen other European countries where non-essential travel has been allowed since earlier this month.

The Foreign Ministry's recommendation to avoid non-essential travel to many other European countries in the Schengen free movement area and the European Economic Area (EEA), as well as Britain, was extended until August 12.

The recommendation applied for instance for neighbouring Finland as well as Austria, the Netherlands, and Romania.

Each traveller was advised to carefully prepare for any trip, keep abreast of advice issued by local authorities and be aware that the Swedish Foreign Ministry had little means to offer limited assistance for repatriation.

Sweden has drawn international attention for not introducing a lockdown and - unlike several neighbouring countries - not closing restaurants or bars. Guests must be served sitting at tables, with a safe distance from each other. Public gatherings are limited to at most 50 people. 

The Swedish Public Health Agency earlier on Wednesday said it had recorded 5,730 coronavirus-related deaths and about 79,700 infections.