Sweden has brought in more restrictions to control its growing coronavirus outbreak, though continues to resist going into lockdown to stamp it out entirely.
The Nordic nation initially took a laissez-faire approach to the pandemic which has globally left 1.2 million dead - almost 6000 of them Swedes - putting in few legally binding restrictions, and hoping the public would voluntarily follow guidelines issued by its Public Health Agency.
This strategy has resulted in Swedes living under restrictions for longer than nations like New Zealand, which opted for hard, but brief, lockdowns to eliminate the virus and return life to as close to normal as possible.
This week, Swedish authorities introduced an eight-person limit on groups in restaurants.
"There is no risk-free business or operation in our land when it comes to COVID-19, but there is a practical question, so that restaurants have greater clarity in how to handle guests," Public Health Agency general director Johan Carlson told local media.
"The fact that you can have a maximum of eight doesn't mean that you should have eight people, you should only socialise with your closest circle. If your family is three people, you shouldn't invite five neighbours to go out, you should go out as a family of three."
State epidemiologist Anders Tegnell, the architect of the country's unique approach to the pandemic, said there was little evidence restaurant visits were a major driver of the virus' spread in Sweden.
Three more regions had new guidelines introduced too, meaning eight out of the country's 21 regions and 70 percent of its people are now covered by restrictions, which differ slightly depending on what local authorities decide.
In general, they include staying out of public indoor environments unless it's necessary; avoiding concerts, shows and sports events; avoid physical contact with people you don't live with; and employers should let staff work from home, if possible.
"Everything we're doing now is going to make a difference for how we get to celebrate Lucia and Christmas," said Prime Minister Stefan Löfven. Lucia is a Chrisitan holiday celebrated in Scandinavia and Italy.
"We have a long, tough winter in front of us," added Carlson.
Most of Sweden's restrictions are not legally binding, but at the same time not really voluntary, according to officials. Britte Bråstad, the Public Health Agency's chief legal officer, told local media they were "something in between regulations and recommendations" in October.
Unlike New Zealand, the Swedish Public Health Agency makes major health decisions almost completely independently of politicians - but at the same time, can't pass laws.
"There is a great deal of trust between the people and the authorities... but it also works in the other direction, that when the Public Health Agency comes up with a recommendation, there is a very strong will among the people to follow it," Foreign Minister Ann Linde told CNN in April.
Tegnell has rejected claims Sweden was going for natural herd immunity, recently saying that would be "futile and immoral".
According to the University of Oxford's Government Response Stringency Index, which measures how tough each country's COVID-19 restrictions presently are, New Zealanders have more freedoms than Swedes right now, and both nations have more than the UK and the US.
