Sweden to establish coronavirus commission as death toll rises above 3,000

Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven wants a special commission to review the country's strategy for dealing with the coronavirus outbreak -- but only when the crisis is over, local media reported on Thursday.

"When the crisis is over -- and I stress, when it is over -- the government intends to appoint such a commission," Lofven told Swedish news agency TT.

The prime minister said that the future commission's tasks and remit have not yet been set, but that one of the main goals will be to summarize the course of events during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as what decisions were made by authorities and politicians, and how well suited Sweden's form of governance is during a situation like the current crisis.

"We have to start thinking and drawing conclusions about what impact this has had and what aspects of our society we need to strengthen," Lofven said.

Lofven has informed the other parliamentary party leaders about his plans, which were met with approval from across the political spectrum.

The announcement came as Sweden's COVID-19 death toll rose to 3,040, an increase of 99 reported deaths since Wednesday. The total number of confirmed cases is now 24,623, with a total of 1,645 treated in intensive care units.