Sweden, whose unorthodox pandemic strategy placed it in the global spotlight, has registered 17,629 new coronavirus cases since Friday, Health Agency statistics show.

The increase compares with 17,265 new cases recorded during the corresponding period last week. Sweden does not publish updates of Covid-19 statistics on weekends and Mondays.

Sweden registered 117 new deaths, taking the total to 6,798. Sweden's death rate per capita is several times higher than that of its Nordic neighbours but lower than some larger European countries.