Sweden tells elderly to end isolation even as new virus cases rise

FILE PHOTO: A woman walks near a trash can with a sign reading "The danger is not over - Keep your distance" on a pedestrian street as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak continues in Uppsala, Sweden October 21, 2020. TT News Agency/Claudio Bresciani via REUTERS

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Swedish senior citizens no longer need to isolate themselves, the government said on Thursday, pointing to lower COVID infection rates than in spring and a growing toll on the mental health of its elderly as behind the new recommendation.

The move to ease the burden on the elderly comes as many countries across Europe are reimposing restrictions to get to grips with surging infections, but the Health Agency has said it does not see evidence of a second wave in Sweden.