The entry ban from Norway and Denmark will be lifted on March 31.
In the border regions, this is being received with cautious optimism. But Johan Hilding, group leader at the police in Strömstad, does not believe it will make much difference in terms of how many people travel across the border.
“"Norway still has its regulations, which makes it difficult to go back if you don't want to be quarantined," he tells Ekot.
Just before Christmas, Sweden introduced an entry ban from Denmark. Only commuters, people living in Sweden and a few other groups were allowed to cross the border. The reason was to prevent the spread of the British variant of the coronavirus. In January, an entry ban was also introduced from Norway. Now, the Public Health Agency believes that travel from Norway and Denmark to Sweden can no longer affect developments in Sweden in terms of the spread of the British variant. On Tuesday, the government announced that the entry ban would be lifted as of April 1.
All Norwegians and Danes can then travel to Sweden again, but only if they can show a negative Covid-19 test at the border, which is no more than 48 hours old. This means that the same rules apply to travelers from EU countries.
Carl-Johan Sonesson, moderate regional board chairman in Skåne, thinks it is fundamentally good that the Danes, with a negative test in hand, can now travel back in.
– The problem is rather that Denmark does not have the same rules. A shortcoming there is that the respective governments do not talk to each other about the same rules of the game, says Sonesson.
Both Denmark and Norway still have border restrictions against Sweden, and the fact that the rules have been different both over time and between nations has led to Carl-Johan Sonesson receiving many comments from people in Skåne that it is unfair that Danes are allowed to come here, while it is difficult for Swedes to get to Denmark.
In the kiosk on the square in Strömstad, Sandra Lundblad is filling up the freezer for the spring ice cream campaign, and she believes that more is needed for Norwegians to come back to town.
– It is if the quarantine is lifted. All relief is better than what it is now. You have to see it positively, it doesn't help to bury yourself, says Sandra Lindblad.
Source: sverigesradio.se
