"Those who are 70-plus should think about traveling"

Yesterday, Prime Minister Stefan Löfven (S) announced that symptom-free people will be able to travel within Sweden from June 13.

During Friday, Sara Byfors, unit manager for laboratory bacterial monitoring at the Public Health Agency, clarified that this applies to everyone, even those who are 70-plus. But she emphasizes that older people need to be extra careful. Ideally, you should be able to complete the entire trip without getting too close to other people.

- If you can take your own car, you should. This really applies to everyone, so that not too many people use public transport. Then you can also go home yourself in case you get sick, says Sara Byfors.

For the elderly who cannot travel by car, think of a little extra.

- You can contact those who arrange the trip and ask if it is possible to book a place before and how it looks, if the distance of one to two meters can be kept. But you also have to think. Do you travel for an hour or a whole day? How big is the chance to get in touch with other people? Maybe you can choose to travel a certain time when fewer go.

According to Sara Byfors, you should also choose a destination with care, especially if you are older.

- It is important what you do in your destination and that you can keep the same distance as you do at home, she says.

There may also be travel destinations that are extra risky.

- If you are older, especially if you have any other illness, you should keep in mind that health care can be extra severe in some regions, making it more difficult to get care.

This can mainly apply to places that receive a large increase in visitors during the summer, such as Gotland, Öland, the West Coast and Dalarna.

The National Board of Health and Welfare has been commissioned to allocate resources within the health care system so that it works in all regions, but according to Sara Byfors, it may still be good to think about.

How to do if you get symptoms of the destination is also an important issue to consider, but it applies to all people whether you belong to a risk group or not.

- You must not travel home with public transport if you have symptoms. If you can't drive a car, you have to make sure that you can stay on the destination longer and must also be able to isolate yourself, says Sara Byfors.

However, if you become so ill that you need care, you should seek it in place.

According to Sara Byfors, the Public Health Agency should review its general advice and then there may be some clarifications. This will happen before June 13.