Sweden Admits Light Lockdown Was Wrong Approach To Fighting Coronavirus
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The scientist behind Sweden’s decision to impose one of the lightest coronavirus lockdowns of any European country has admitted the approach has not been effective and has led to one the highest death tolls per capita in the world.
Sweden’s relatively soft approach to combating the virus had attracted international attention and was lauded by those who argued lockdowns were unnecessarily damaging to economies.
Large gatherings were banned but restaurants and schools for younger children have stayed open.
But then the death toll started to rise sharply.
Some 4,468 Swedes have died whereas Denmark and Norway, which both border the country but imposed much stricter lockdowns, have seen 580 and 237 deaths respectively.
Per capita, Sweden has the 7th highest death toll in the world, behind San Marino, Belgium, Andorra, Spain, the UK and Italy.
The current situation is even bleaker with Sweden currently having the highest seven day rolling average death toll of any country with population of over one million.
Speaking to Sveriges Radio, Sweden’s state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell, said: “If we would encounter the same disease, with exactly what we know about it today, I think we would land midway between what Sweden did and what the rest of the world did.
“There is quite obviously a potential for improvement in what we have done in Sweden. It would be good to know exactly what to close down to better prevent the spread of the virus.”
AP journalist Phelan Chatterjee said on Tuesday that the “deaths have exposed cracks in the Swedish nation, leaving some in disproportionately affected groups wondering how much their lives really matter”.
He added: “Even as transmission slows, Sweden’s death toll has soared to over 4,200 — four to nine times higher per capita than Nordic neighbours. Antibody levels are disappointingly low. A sense of unease finally...
