The government has previously proposed that the 50-person limit be raised, but that a maximum ceiling should still be in place. The Swedish Public Health Agency is now proposing in its opinion that the upper limit be raised again to 500 people at an initial stage.

It should later be possible to raise the ceiling "depending on the development of the pandemic in the country and the effects of the change", writes FHM.

The government proposed a distance of two meters, but FHM believes that one meter is enough. The distance proposal is based on the fact that the droplets that spread the new coronavirus "fall quickly through the air and usually do not reach more than a few meters", writes FHM.

50-ceiling since March

Since March 2020, a maximum of 50 people have been allowed to participate in public gatherings and public events. The temporary change in the Public Order Act has upset cultural workers and artists in that the 50 limit has not included, for example, restaurants or shopping centers.

The Swedish Public Health Agency also believes that the ceiling of 500 should not only cover the public, as now, but the total number of people participating in a gathering. If a concert is to be held, musicians and stage workers will also be included and during a football match, players and arena staff will be included.

Traffic problems

One reason why larger gatherings were banned was that traveling to large events is in itself a risk of infection. FHM writes that "the risk of congestion in public transport in connection with a gathering is imminent with an increasing number of participants".

An increase from 500 people to more than that is only possible "if the epidemiological situation allows it", writes FHM.