Sweden not in lockdown

[Tiggering]

Sweden is still not in lockdown. The schools are open, businesses have continued to work and most public transport is still running. They are relying on people washing their hands, staying at home if they have symptoms and self isolating if they are vulnerable. I wonder if it is working. Would a similar policy have worked in England?

foreignpolicy.com/2020/03/24/sweden-coronavirus-open-for-business/

My family are all in Sweden and my impression is that people are definitely not our and about as they used to.

My brother has been working from home for a week and a bit now and his wife's beauty salon has very few customers.

A friend's DP is a chef at Grand Hotel Stockholm, on his first shift back after paternity leave last weekend he said they served one customer.

The over 70s are meant to be avoiding crowds, public transport and shops.

A friend is a post woman and she said 15 out of a team of 45 were off self isolating last week.

I still think the government should take more stringent measures though! Very worried about my parents as both over 70.

If you look at Worldometers, Sweden’s deaths are becoming significant when considered against its population. It’s current death rate per million is now the same as the UK. Given Sweden is still only half-heartedly socially distancing, I fear it’s staring down the barrels of a disaster.

I think this situation has been allowed to develop due to the esteem in which people hold Sweden, both internally and externally.

In most other countries the response to similar relative inaction would be, and has been, enormous criticism and people (rightly) are sceptical of their Governments’ competence.

With Sweden, people’s response is much more: “well the Swedes are very sensible and their Government is very competent - I’m sure they’re doing the right thing, and they’ll show us how it should be done”.... a benefit of the doubt not given to the Chinese, British, Spanish, Italians, Americans or virtually anyone else. Looking at the ever more alarming stats from Sweden, I fear this will be the Swedes’ undoing. 😔

That’s definitely the impression I got from some colleagues in Gothenburg, Derbygerbil.

Perhaps school closures are regional, Tiggering? My colleague told me her children’s schools are closed and they’re early/mid teens.

Derbygerbil totally agree that the perception of any country as a whole seems to colour opinion of their virus strategy and success. Sweden is expected to be sensible and therefore fine. But we did try the same approach and swiftly had to change it. Maybe the only reason the Swedes have got this far with the loose strategy is that they have, as pointed out, a much lower population density. I haven't studied figures in detail but it looks like Stockholm is now ramping up in terms of infection.

Finallyhere yes it's like trying to compare exam results between schools where the reporting criteria aren't standard - the UK aren't testing anyone apart from those showing potential symptoms, so we can't know infection rate and can't compare with, eg, Germany and South Korea where there is extensive testing.

The Germans seem to be doing extremely well. And they very quickly had enforced testing at borders, stopped free land traffic, etc.

From what I've read, testing is key, because then you have some chance of containing infection. I think the approach of not testing leads unnecessarily huge numbers as lambs to possible slaughter.

And the effect of the UK's patchily planned lockdown is going to be quantum in terms of the economy and society. And the lives of individuals. With house moving - why not have a clear, enforceable set of requirements? Say only remote viewing and negotiations. Removals must be by an approved provider with masks, gloves frequently changed, limited people in the same area, disinfection. There must be a period of eg four hours between house occupation and in the time house must be disinfected and certified. For example. You set the rules. You create new or changed job opportunities Life continues. (sorry - trotting off topic)

But Sweden is so committed to freedom, being outdoors, being self-reliant. They get through those monstrously dark winters and they presume their stolid fierceness and not being afraid of a bit of icy mud will get them through this.

I hope it does. But at what price to the vulnerable in households where the Swedish government has not (yet) leant behind social distancing or testing? Won't people die fir no good reason? Perhaps Sweden has a secret supply of millions of ventilators (not need to use ones from the vets, as per the UK 🥺).