Thousands of people protested in Sweden’s two largest cities against the mandatory Covid-19 passports and the measures in place.

About 9,000 people, according to Swedish media, demonstrated in the streets of Stockholm shouting “No to vaccination, Yes to freedom”, following an invitation from an organisation called the “Freedom Movement”.

In Gothenburg, another rally took place where over 1,500 people expressed their opposition to the Covid regulations and the vaccination passports.

The Nordic country, which has seen 40,000 daily cases of the substantially less severe Omicron for a week, has introduced the vaccination certificate since December 1st. From December 12, the pass is mandatory for entry to indoor events with more than 50 people.

Some vaccination centres in the city were closed early for precautionary reasons. More than 83% of Swedes over the age of 12 have been fully vaccinated.

In the face of the pandemic, Sweden, unlike other countries, did not impose a lockdown on the population, nor did it close schools, preferring to recommend measures of social distancing, distance work, and limited use of the mask.

Authorities, however, banned visits to nursing homes, restricting public events and opening hours of bars and restaurants.

The death toll in Sweden, around 15,600 out of a population of 10.3 million, is close to the European average.