https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/05/15/world/europe/sweden-coronavirus-deaths.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage
No two countries are exactly alike, making comparisons inexact. Luck,
travel patterns and personal actions play a role, not just government
policy.
Swedish officials chose not to implement a nationwide lockdown,
trusting that people would do their part to stay safe. Schools,
restaurants, gyms and bars remained open, with social distancing rules
enforced, while gatherings were restricted to 50 people.
Two months later, it has not been the worst-case scenario many
envisioned. Covid-19 deaths have disproportionately hit the elderly and those in nursing homes,
as is the case in most countries, but hospitals have not been
overwhelmed. As with the rest of the world, it will be months, or even
years, before the full picture of mortality emerges.
“It is clear that mortality in Stockholm has been a lot higher than you
would expect from a normal year,” said Martin Kolk, a demographer at
Stockholm University. “But we will have to wait and see what happens.
It’s a very big difference if we continue to see excess mortality for
six more months, or if it will be back to normal levels in a few weeks.”
People like the Swedes so they ignore their failures or even give praise for them.
ReplyDeleteThe UK tried this approach and abandoned it after 2 weeks but until this day Boris Johnstone gets condemned for even having considered it. But the Swedes? Well it wasn't so bad. Well it was only the elderly that died. Well we have to wait and see.
Whole of Sweden has population equivalent to London or new York.
ReplyDeleteEven the scientist who crafted their policy said he didn't expect this kind of death toll that they are experiencing. (But of course, he should have expected it if he had any brains, and he may not be honest in saying he didn't expect it). Cut the fakenews lipservice and kidsgloves.
ReplyDeleteAlso, gatherings limited to 50 people huh? That's not "business as usual" for you constitution thumpers
Sweden gets the National Darwin Award. Congrats!
ReplyDeleteDensity nowhere close to the same.
ReplyDeleteNumber of introductions from international travel, nowhere close to the same.
London and NY are international commercial and tourism hubs... Sweden not so much. Look at Sweden compared to its neighbors. https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/total-covid-deaths-per-million?tab=chart&year=2020-04-27&country=DNK+FIN+NOR+SWE
That is ugly, and this shows what happens when you don't make efforts to limit transmission of the virus.
That's right. Not much international football either. This is how the virus had a chance to spread in UK
ReplyDelete