Swedish News, May 7:

Sweden participates in discussions on vaccine. Distance learning could continue in the fall. EU forecasts recession of historic proportions. Another 87 deceased in covid-19 in Sweden. Healthcare workers free lunch to be taxed. Ryanair takes Sweden to court. 

  • The airline Ryanair has asked the EU court to annul the government support Sweden has given to airlines.

  • Sweden participates in discussions on vaccine
    Sweden participates in the discussion at EU about how to handle an upcoming vaccine against the corona virus, state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell announced at a press conference on May 6. The process is already underway on the EU level for how to manage and distribute the vaccine when it becomes available. Previously, it has been stated that it can take from one to several years to develop a vaccine. “We do not know what the vaccine will look like, who will produce it and when it will be available,” Tegnell said.
                                            
    Distance learning could continue in the fall
    Several universities and colleges are preparing to have distance education even in the fall because of the corona virus, according to reports on Swedish radio. The University of Borås has already decided to teach students digitally. The decision is valid during the first half of the autumn term, provided that the warnings for the spread of the virus remain. At Lund University there is a similar readiness to either continue with distance education or a return to normal. Universities and colleges introduced distance education in March to stop corona spread.

  • Lund University is among the universities in Sweden that are prepared to either continue with distance education or return to normal in the fall. (The old building at Lund University)

  • EU forecasts recession of historic proportions
    The effects of the corona crisis are difficult for the economy. All EU countries will end up in a recession, the EU predicts in its spring forecast. “It is now quite clear that the EU has entered the deepest economic recession in its history,” EU Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni told reporters in Brussels." More than 1.1 million people have contracted the virus across Europe and over 137,000 have died, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Greece, Spain and Italy are deeply affected, with GDP falling by just over 6% and unemployment almost 10%, says the EU.

  • Another 87 deceased in covid-19 in Sweden
    Another 87 new deaths due to covid-19 have been reported in Sweden, according to the Public Health Authority. A total of 2,941 people in the country have died from the virus. A total of 23,918 people have been confirmed infected. 1,620 people are or have been in intensive care so far.

  • Healthcare workers free lunch to be taxed
    During the corona crisis, donations financed free lunches for hard-working hospital staff in Lund, but now the Swedish Tax Agency stops this. The lunches should be taxed as benefits, according to Swedish newspapers. Both private individuals and companies have previously paid three restaurants in Lund to cook free lunches for staff at the hospital.

  • Ryanair takes Sweden to court
    The airline Ryanair has asked the EU court to annul the government support Sweden has given to airlines. The Swedish parliament, Riksdagen, has decided that airlines will during the year "be given the opportunity to obtain credit guarantees worth a maximum of SEK 5 billion". The measures discriminate against companies that are based outside the country, writes Ryanair, who has also criticized French and Danish similar measures.