Sweden to lift most COVID measures

Sweden will remove virtually all coronavirus restrictions on September 29 with the pandemic under control and the vaccination rollout well-advanced, the government said Tuesday.

Hygiene rules and social distancing to combat the virus will still be encouraged in public places, according to the authorities.

"Our aim has always been to lift the restrictions as soon as possible," Health Minister Lena Hallengren told a press conference.

Sweden made global headlines for its decision to combat the spread of the virus with mostly non-coercive measures rather than the type of lockdowns seen across Europe.

Those measures began to be eased from May under a five-point plan, with the fourth stage due to be reached at the end of September.