Sweden to ease pandemic curbs despite worries over mounting Delta cases

FILE PHOTO: People sit at tables at an outdoor bar in Stockholm, Sweden, July 1 2021. Stefan Jerrevang/TT News Agency/via REUTERS

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Sweden's government said on Monday it will move ahead with a planned easing of pandemic restrictions this week but warned that new variants of the virus demanded vigilance as it urged people to adhere to social distancing recommendations.

Sweden has relied mainly on voluntary measures to stem the spread of infections, though curbs on opening hours for restaurants and limits on crowds at venues such as shopping malls have also been implemented.