Sweden, whose light-touch pandemic strategy has gained global attention, registered 1,980 new coronavirus cases on October 27, the highest since the start of the pandemic, Reuters reported, quoting Health Agency statistics.

The country also registered nine new deaths, taking the total to 5,927 deaths. Sweden's death rate per capita is several times higher than Nordic neighbours but lower than some larger European countries, such as Spain and Britain.

The increase compares with a high of 1,870 daily cases recorded on October 23. The Health Agency has said the peak during the spring probably ran far higher but went unrecorded due to a lack of testing at the time.