Princess Sofia Of Sweden Begins Work As Healthcare Assistant To Help Fight Coronavirus

The Duchess of Värmland completed a three-day training course at Sophiahemmet University College in Stockholm and is now able to assist with healthcare work at the Sophiahemmet hospital.

The hospital has been overwhelmed by Covid-19 which led to the establishment of a new scheme run by the university, which will see 80 people a week follow in Sofia's footsteps by completing the course and joining the front-line of healthcare workers.

These people will not directly treat patients, rather they will provide relief for doctors and nurses by performing tasks such as disinfecting equipment, cooking and cleaning.

Former glamour model Sofia became a member of the Swedish royal family in 2015 when she married Prince Carl Philip, who is the son of King Carl Gustaf.

A statement issued by Sweden's Royal Court on Wednesday, said: "In the crisis we find ourselves in, the Princess wants to get involved and make a contribution as a voluntary worker to relieve the large workload of health care professionals."

Sweden has come under fire over its handling of coronavirus, with schools, pubs and restaurants remaining open as the number of new cases in the country rises sharply. Today (Thursday) another 613 people tested positive for the disease, which is the biggest increase in seven days.

The country's death toll also stands at 1,333, which is markedly more than its Scandinavian neighbours, with Finland recording 75 deaths, Norway recording 152 deaths and Denmark - by far the most densely populated Nordic country - recording 321.

Anders Tegnell, the country's chief epidemiologist, has defended the decision to refrain from putting the country into full lockdown, claiming the higher than average age of those dying in Sweden indicated there had been a failure to protect the elderly in care homes.