There was no fear of an increase in infection - but there are concerns that fewer cases may have been detected

Despite calls from the Swedish Public Health Agency and the government to limit travel during the Christmas and New Year weekend to reduce the risk of infection spreading, many chose to go to the Swedish mountains.

But with the results in hand, it looks like the feared increase in new cases of covid-19 may have been absent.

Neglecting symptoms

Annika Ersson, assistant infection control doctor in the Jämtland-Härjedalen region, interprets this as meaning that those who traveled to the ski resorts followed the recommendations in such a way that the infection did not spread.

At the same time, she believes that during the red holidays there has been a reduced testing, which may be a reason why fewer cases of the virus have been detected.

- I have a fear that when you are on holiday you are more likely to neglect your symptoms and maybe be out and do what you had intended to do in any case.

But we have not yet seen any indication that the infection is spreading in the communities where mountain tourism takes place, says Annika Ersson.

The Dalarna region does not see an increase either.

At the same time, Helena Ernlund, the region's assistant infection control doctor, emphasizes that it is not possible to determine at which sampling station people with symptoms have been tested.

- If they have fallen ill, they have probably gone home instead of testing themselves here, she says.

FHM: Limit travel

In the Stockholm region, from which many mountain tourists have traveled, there is now rather a decrease in the number of new cases of covid-19.

- We can not see that there is an increase in relation to the fact that you would have traveled more during the weekends, says the region's infection control doctor Maria Rotzén Östlund to SVT Stockholm's reporter.

According to her, however, the trace of infection between the regions has not been increased after the Christmas holidays.

At the same time, the Public Health Agency's general national council is adhering, which means that everyone must think through whether it is really necessary to carry out travel.