It was a relatively alert prime minister who, together with four ministers and the Director General of the Public Health Agency, held a press conference as early as eight o'clock on Friday morning.

Despite ongoing vaccination and a cautious reduction in the spread of infection, the government was harsh:

- The pressure on healthcare is still great.

Those who stay at home and work also protect the people who have to go to work, not least the healthcare employees who work very hard, said Stefan Löfven (S).

"Local education" in high school

Most corona measures are being extended, but for the country's upper secondary school students, who since last autumn have once again had to handle all school work at a distance, the possibility of "certain local education" in classrooms is now open.

At least in municipalities with a lower spread of infection, Minister of Education Anna Ekström (S) said:

- It is not reasonable for the teaching to take place at a distance throughout the country when the infection situation looks so different.

In that situation, it is better for the regional infection control doctors to decide to what extent the schools should be able to be open for teaching on site or not.

The degree of local and distance education in upper secondary school is decided by the principals, ie the owners of the schools.

Leisure - only for children

The government also extends the call on municipalities and regions to keep sports facilities, open preschools, museums and other non-essential activities closed to the public, at least until 7 February.

Exceptions are made for children born in 2005 or later.

The motive is that it is important for the children's health to be able to move around and have activities both indoors and outdoors.

As long as the development does not change dramatically, the government, together with the Swedish Public Health Agency, will reconsider the restrictions every two weeks.

It is also ready to make further shutdowns with the support of the new pandemic law - should the infection situation deteriorate.

Stefan Löfven concluded the press conference with the following words:

- We know that many have been saddened by this situation and how it requires us to limit our lives.

You want to be able to hug your grandmother, go to football or gather at a large dinner table again.

The day when we can live our lives as before the pandemic, but we are not there yet.