STOCKHOLM, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Sweden has extended the advice against non-essential travel to countries outside the EU/EEA/Schengen area until April 15.

"This means there will be no such trips abroad for the winter school holidays and the Easter weekend," said Foreign Minister Ann Linde as the decision was announced at a press conference on Tuesday morning.

"One should carefully consider whether it is really the appropriate time to make a trip right now. Many countries still have closed borders or extensive restrictions on entry and exit opportunities, quarantine regulations and curfews," said the minister.

"The uncertainty is great, and it is not possible to predict when it will be possible to travel safely and freely around the world in view of the corona pandemic and its consequences," she added.

The Swedish government's assessment is that the uncertain situation will remain for the coming months and the advice may be extended further at a later date, Linde said.

Meanwhile, the advice against unnecessary travel to Norway, the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland applies until further notice in an attempt to minimize the threat from the new variant of COVID-19.

The new strain of COVID-19 has previously led to Sweden introducing a temporary entry ban from the United Kingdom, Norway and Denmark.

As the world is struggling to contain the pandemic, vaccination is underway in Sweden and other countries with the already-authorized COVID-19 vaccines.

Meanwhile, 237 candidate vaccines are still being developed worldwide -- 64 of them in clinical trials -- in countries including Germany, China, Russia, Britain and the United States, according to information released by the World Health Organization on Jan. 22. Enditem

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