The Swedish government warned on Wednesday of possible local lockdowns for the first time in the pandemic as it fears a new wave following an increase of cases in some regions after weeks of a relatively stable spread of the coronavirus, news wires reported.

A new study by Danderyd University Hospital and Karolinska Institute in Sweden shows that 96% of those infected in the spring still have antibodies after nine months.

Swedish truckmaker Volvo said it was regaining market positions as the company’s 2020 profits cruised past experts forecasts to top the 2019 results, Reuters reported.

The Swedish telecommunications company Ericsson announced a better than expected results for the last quarter of 2020 as the it benefited by strong demand for 5G equipment combined with a ban for main competitor Huawei to operate on most European markets, Reuters reported.

Sweden's government on Thursday announced updates to some of its key coronavirus measures, including relating to upper secondary schools, alcohol sales and face masks on public transport, news wires reported. “We can see a cautious downturn in the spread of infection in some regions, but the situation remains serious,” PM Stefan Lofven told reporters at a news conference.

Sweden is moving very fast in setting the basis for covering the whole territory of the country by 5G telecommunications network, Reuters reported. The development plans show that the coverage will be implemented in the next two or three years.

Sweden has seen a decline in new COVID-19 cases and hospitalisations in recent weeks, the Health Agency said on Tuesday, though it warned it was too early to say if it represented a lasting slowdown.

People applying for Swedish citizenship should be required to show proof of Swedish language skills and understanding of the Swedish society, news wires reported. "Language is the key to work, but also the key to society," Justice and Migration Minister Morgan Johansson said as he presented details of an inquiry into the proposals on Wednesday.

Thousands of households across northern Sweden and southern Finland were without power Wednesday after a heavy snowfall, and forecasters warned that particularly icy temperatures lay ahead for the Baltic Sea region.

The Swedish government will have the power to close shopping centers and public transport from 10 January and fine people who break the rules, under a new law proposed on Monday to help halt the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.