Why did Sweden decide to act differently?

[tontie]

Sweden is an outlier, any ideas as why they decided to do things differently? protect the economy or because they think this is the best long term strategy?

[justilou1]

Look up Bjorn Lomborg on google. (I’m not sure I’m in agreement with this bloke here...) He says that once we come out of lockdown there will be another wave of the virus and that will cause a worse blow to the economy, etc... He has a lot more to say about losing some to protect many, etc... Swedes are more pragmatic, I guess. Also much more socially distant by nature anyway. Very different kind of society.

[tontie]

Some of what he says kinda makes sense & I agree about cultural differences. I'm just surprised the country has maintained that stance when it's at odds with so many others, the population must have a lot of faith in their gov.

[justilou1]

Yep... I’m in Australia, and I most certainly do not have faith in our govt, and neither do most of our people.

[MonaLisaDoesntSmile]

They happen to have a very good healthcare system, with buffet capacity and better resources. So they may better prepared for a biggee influx of patients.

[DeathByBoredom]

National character?

I am very disappointed in ours, I have to say.

[AshGirl]

I would love to live in a country with 'buffet capacity'

[LittleSwede]

They are not quite as different as mefya makes out. Fir example Sweden are shielding their over 70s, secondary/upper schools are shut, as are cinemas and quite a few restaurants too.

I live in the UK but my parents are in Sweden. My brother has been working from home for over a month. My mum is shielding in her flat and only goes out for walks. My brother leaves shopping for her outside her door, keeping social distancing.

My friends over there haven't seen their parents over Easter and grandparents over 70 would not have seen their grandchildren either.

My mum says that young people in their 20s seem to go about almost as normal but everyone else is keeping their distance.

Yes, some bars and restaurants are open but customers have been encouraged to keep 2 meters apart or establishments can be shut down.

I do worry about my parents and friends but it does sound as if they are taking precaution and people are being very sensible. Swedes love the outdoors and are quite introverted anyway so social distancing is easier in many ways.

[MegUffin]

They also have a population of just 10 million compared to our 66 million.

Look at the land mass.

There is massive differences and how easy it is to social distance.

[LittleSwede]

Meyfa??? Media that was meant to say

[justanotherneighinparadise]

Didn’t Japan try and do similar and it’s now suffering because of it?

[justilou1]

They also have a greater percentage of adults who live alone, restaurantsa, bars, etc are limited to 50 ppl with social distancing measures in place, but unlike here in Aus, people are paying attention to distances, etc and being compliant. They seem to be bloody oblivious here!

[JoeBidensDisintegratingBrain]

Actually, ScoMo has a 59% approval rating. His approval rating has soared as a result of his handling of the crisis.

ScoMo rules!

[tontie]

I am very disappointed in ours, I have to say.

Why?

[tontie]

So they are socially distancing & shielding anyway. I understand the population differences, I guess I'm impressed that they just get on with it, are sensible & don't need things "enforced". Is the media positive & in support?

[Thinkinghappythoughts]

I used to live in Sweden. My Swedish friends say that they trust the government and will readily do as advised. They genuinely believe their government does the best for its citizens (and I believe that too of the Swedish government). It made me feel sad as a child of the 80's I have only ever really known suspicion of the actions of the UK government.

PILs are Swedish and their everyday is almost exactly like ours in the lockdown "lite".

I am worried about CV spreading more in the summer months as Swedes end their winter hibernation.

[Floatyboat]

It increasingly seems kind of sensible. Whoever made the call though must have had big cajones.

[PerfPower]

I wouldn't be surprised if, when we look back in a few years at the genuine statistics, the only thing that made any real difference was density of population.

[ShleeAnKree]

I find this fascinating as well. I haven't checked in the last few days but I was keeping an eye on their deaths and Ireland's deaths because both populations relatively small, multiplying Ireland's deaths by 2.18 (Ireland's population by 2.18 equals Sweden's population) and the answer to that calculation was only a bit lower than Sweden's actual number of deaths per day.

I cannot understand how they're doing it. Mind you, I don't think it's quite ''business as usual'' as has been reported. A lot of people are working from home. Half of students at home. People being careful.

Mind you, things can change in a few days.

[tontie]

Whoever made the call though must have had big cajones.

huge ones!

[tontie]

I wouldn't be surprised if, when we look back in a few years at the genuine statistics, the only thing that made any real difference was density of population.

Age of population & perhaps diversity?

[Porcupineinwaiting]

They are (as a population) happy to accept a higher death rate (compared to neighbouring countries) in exchange for lockdown lite. Bit like we are actually.

They dont have a death rate like ours because their health system is better, they have less poverty and their population density is much lower. If BAME persons are truly more vulnerable (separate to risks from occupation and poverty) then that may be another reason.

[ShleeAnKree]

I agree, los mas grandes!

With regard to a country's population, it doesn't necessarily make it easier to distance socially. If it weren't for all the restrictions in Ireland, the buses would be full, the bars, cafes, restaurants, sandwich bars would be full. We have a population of 4.75 million and when I used to go to the Dundrum shopping centre for a few treats, I wondered if they were all there too.

So I think the kiss left kiss right, kiss AGAIN style greetings will come in to it JUST as much as low density population.

[Thinkinghappythoughts]

They have much less poverty and they are much more accepting of people taking sick leave.

[imamearcat]

It's funny how Sweden can do something and people can have a normal conversation about why, but whatever our government do it's always i massive slagging match about how incompetent / uncaring etc etc etc they are.

[ShleeAnKree]

Before all of this, good friends had become very French in their hello greetings. I really liked that. I suppose it's goodbye to that. We''ll go back to a firm handshake or a sporting pat on the back. :-/