Sweden, could we do it the swedish way?

[SQuueze]

Maybe they have just got lucky but they aren't in complete lockdown. There is social distancing and other measures in place. But with masks, not coughing on people, a few rules, could we make it work?

[NoMorePoliticsPlease]

No

[knackeredmumoftwo]

But they are a very socially aware and have a compliant culture - just look at the number of people in the U.K. pushing the lockdown for their own needs.....

[Cornettoninja]

I think once we’re over the curve then there will be a point it’s viable. The same way we missed the point in our way up, there’ll be will be another point on the way down.

This is another point I’m annoyed with the government and the WHO on. The public declaration that masks were useless to the general population was false. I understand they were concerned about there not being enough for HCP’s but it was wrong and should have been encouraged widely. Even a flimsy mask worn routinely helps decrease the spread but it’s no use in isolation, it doesn’t protect you but people from you. It’s not like our HCP’s even benefitted from it in the end.

[Pinkocelot]

But they are a very socially aware and have a compliant culture - just look at the number of people in the U.K. pushing the lockdown for their own needs.....

This

You only have to look on the number of 'why should I?' Or 'it doesn't apply to me' threads and posts on here to realise we wouldn't comply. I haven't read stories about police having to break up parties in Germany or Sweden, like I have in this country. As I've said on another thread, we have a lot of people who a) don't think the rules apply to them and b) think the government should bail them out if it all goes tits up.

[Tonyaster]

I think they've made the right decision. Lockdown doesn't work - look at Spain.

Build the field hospitals and ventilators then relax the lockdown for businesses and schools with masks and strict social distancing.

[Tonyaster]

But they are a very socially aware and have a compliant culture - just look at the number of people in the U.K. pushing the lockdown for their own needs.....

I think you've missed the point spectacularly! The Swedes don't need to push the lockdown rules as they are far more relaxed. Psychologically it's a much more sensible decision.

[Mother40]

I think Sweden are making a huge mistake and will see much higher numbers dying soon.

[Zxyzoey31]

Yes

[Tonyaster]

If lockdown worked in the crude way we are doing it, then Spain wouldn't still be looking down the barrel of a gun.

[Delatron]

It’ll be interesting to see how it pans out. The reason we are on lockdown is to not overwhelm the NHS at the same time.

If Sweden think their healthcare system can cope they are clearly going for herd immunity and will come out of it with their economy in tact or strong. Hugely risky though and I’m not sure they can hold out.

[Delatron]

What’s interesting though js that unlike us when we were doing the same, they are not the ‘laughing stock’ of the world. It’s viewed differently as it’s Sweden!

[icecreamscoops]

My husband made the point that in the future epidemiologists will be able to study how different countries dealt with the pandemic and work out the 'right' strategy. Not particular helpful right now but I suppose we are all part of this massive experiment!

[Tonyaster]

If the reason is not to overwhelm the NHS then once the ventilators and field hospitals are built the economic lockdown should stop.

[Tonyaster]

We were never the laughing stock of the world. Only on mumsnet where people love to pick fault in everything that the uk govt does.

[thatgingergirl]

I recall about a week before UK "lockdown", around 300 academics in the UK addressed the government telling them they were taking the wrong approach. 2,000 academics in Sweden are saying the same thing to their government The Guardian. Only time will tell - there are variations between countries, demography, population density, culture etc. all of which must have a bearing on how the spread of Covid-19 is affected.

[pennylane83]

Working from home is already the norm in Sweeden and their schooling/chilldcare system is different therefore they didn't have to completely change their approach to doing things like we have in the UK. Essentially, they're already set up for this scenario. Because the majority are tucked away working from home already they haven't spread the virus in the same way we have by travelling to and from work and all the face to face contact from being in big offices etc.

[okiedokieme]

We could but people need to firstly understand statistics and listen to reports carefully, we need to realise there's a difference between dying with covid19 and of covid19 and we need to accept that there will be some collateral damage - a few young people, and a few more middle aged adults who had no preexisting condition will die. If as a society we can accept this and be sensible then we could reopen cafes and go back to work, my thought is though we would panic at the numbers dying (not understanding how ill the vast majority were to start with, 80% according to Italian data were terminally ill before contracting covid19). A pause until school is due to return makes sense, the extra hospitals are being built etc then a phased return to work perhaps ...

[Flaxmeadow]

No.
They are seeing a sharper rises in cases than their neighbouring countries and "signs of a higher doubling rate than Italy" according to The Guardian

[PicsInRed]

Keeping the economy open is the better option, morbidity wise, long term.

UNLESS, the data begins to indicate a swamping of the health system AND mass absences in key services such as electricity, gas, transport, grocery provision, money provision and water services.

If the Swedes are stubborn and resistant to changing tack, they risk destroying their economy and country rather than saving it.

[Balhammom]

We were already a laughing stock...

Sweden is different in a whole host of ways. In particular, parts of Stockholm aside, it is far less densely populated. While this should be stating the obvious for most people, what works in one location does not necessarily work in another.

And to the clown who stated that lockdown has failed in Spain... really? Do you have a full, comparable evidence base on the number of cases without lockdown in place?

[Eggcited]

80% according to Italian data were terminally ill before contracting covid19

I would be interested in seeing the source for this statistic.

[Goawayquickly]

Someone mentioned Germany up thread, I have many German friends who tell me people are still gathering and going to see friends and neighbours, flouting the rules just like here. We may not read about it but it seems to be happening.

[middleager]

Only time will tell.

I'm not sure I agree that the UK was only a laughing stock on MN though. I have friends in Spain who said that people there couldn't understand the UK's attitude. And, if you read the Italian press from a few weeks ago, they completely condemned the UK's "wash your hands" philosophy. It was obvious the WHO were not happy with the UK either.

[Tonyaster]

And to the clown who stated that lockdown has failed in Spain... really?

Look on worldmeter.com.

Death toll still astronomical. Daily cases not dropping significantly.

[Tonyaster]

We have absolutely nothing to learn from the way Spain had done things