Sweden reports 32,369 new coronavirus cases in less than a week

Sweden has reported 32,369 COVID-19 cases since its most recent update to the country’s health data less than a week ago on Dec. 30.

The country has also registered 258 new deaths, Reuters reported, bringing the its total coronavirus fatalities to 8,985. The deaths reported have usually occurred over multiple days or weeks.

Swedish officials on Dec. 26 announced that they detected the first coronavirus case in the country that involved a mutated strain of the virus that is more contagious.

The Swedish Health Agency said the patient had recently traveled from the United Kingdom, where the strain was first detected.

Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf told Swedish residents during an address last month that the country’s strategy to slow the spread of COVID-19 has “failed” and that its people have suffered “enormously” amid the ongoing pandemic.

Sweden resisted implementing a nationwide lockdown throughout the coronavirus pandemic, unlike many of its fellow European countries. The Swedish government has suspended nonessential travel to the country from outside of the European Union through at least March 31. Sweden also banned entry from the United Kingdom and Denmark, except for Swedish citizens and some other exceptions.