Sweden extends coronavirus testing as death toll rises to 1,400

The Swedish government said Friday it will significantly expand COVID-19 testing to ensure that key workers outside the healthcare system will also be able to get access.

Johan Carlson, director-general of Sweden's Public Health Agency, and minister for health and social affairs, Lena Hallengren, at a joint press conference outlined the new strategy, which extends testing to police, emergency service personnel and other key workers.

"The aim is to carry out 50,000 to 100,000 tests per week," said Hallengren, emphasizing that those tests must not be carried out at the expense of testing medical staff and severely ill patients.

Also on Friday, Sweden's National Board of Health and Welfare said it now officially acknowledges obese people as a risk group, in addition to seven other risk groups. They include people above the age of 70, cancer patients, people diagnosed with multiple conditions like heart and coronary diseases, diabetes and chronic lung or liver conditions.

An additional 67 COVID-19 deaths were registered in Sweden in the past day, bringing the death toll to 1,400. Total number of confirmed cases in the country now stands at 13,216, out of which, over 1,000 have been treated in intensive care.