Sweden's approach

[Allaboardthemagicbus2020]

How come the Swede's seem to be taking a casual approach to this?
No lockdown or closing of bars/cafes yet.

Any Swedes on here to offer their thoughts?

AutumnRose1
It is thought best that the 70 year old who lives alone doesn't go out so the community is getting involved - GAA - Irish football association, church and OAP services also postmen and postwomen are to check if any one needs assistance.
A community effort to keep over 70's safe.
Older people are being prioritised for home delivery slots too.
Hopefully it works out.

One of my sons lives in South Korea (Seoul).

In South Korea, life is mostly fairly normal except for the closure of Schools. The measures there were testing, stringent tracing of contacts, and quarantine for two weeks. Almost everyone wearing masks. Gyms are open with a 2m distance, cinemas with an empty seat each customer. Death rates are low and falling daily new cases.

In denmark, and I hear Sweden too, people live more physically distant lives than brits in the first place and I imagine in Southern Europe too. No hugs or kisses, or even handshake often, just a little nod in the correct direction suffices for most interactions. Low density housing, no eat out culture, public services are barely used. Just sit in your house with your family. Basically 'shut down' lite is the norm. I know the Danes changed the way that deaths are classified a couple of days ago which made the death rate look like it spiked, I don't know how other countries are classifying deaths. We'll only know with hindsight what was the best approach although Sweden does seem a bit of an outlier to say the least.

Thank you LadyEloise

As long as no one is actually sending over 70s home if they go for a walk or to do their shop, that would be horrendous.

Danetobe I wondered about the eat out culture as well. I don’t eat out and really wondered about the hygiene of high traffic places like KFC a long time ago.

Looking at Worlometer this morning.

UK has 18 deaths per million of the polulation. The first reported UK case was January 30th

Sweden has 11 deaths per million of the population. The first reported case was January 30 th.

Ireland has 9 deaths per million of the population. The first reported case was February 28th.

I hope I have the above details correct.

Ireland had a stricter lockdown than the UK or Sweden, also its first reported case was a month after UK and Sweden and yet, despite this, its death rate per million isn't significantly different to Sweden.

LadyEloise - there must be so many variables between countries. Demographic, culture, population density, testing etc. Look at The Netherlands - they took similar action to the UK, but a week earlier, on 16th March. On worldometer, they have 45 deaths per million of population, with first case reported on 26th February. Their population density is much higher than Ireland, Sweden or the UK. And then the other variables play their part.

@FloconDeNeige we are in similar parts of the world, it seems.

Noticed a very clear increase in people about and cars on the road today.
Watching to see what happens tomorrow...

Ireland had a stricter lockdown than the UK or Sweden, also its first reported case was a month after UK and Sweden and yet, despite this, its death rate per million isn't significantly different to Sweden.

There’s a typically a 3-4 week lag between being infected and death, so Ireland’s deaths will largely have been infected prior to its “lockdown”.... The significant suppression that lockdown will have caused should have an impact soon.

Sweden’s rates however continue to climb with lacklustre only social distancing occurring, so they risk taking much longer to reach what would be a far, far higher peak.

Their 59 deaths today would be equivalent to 384 deaths in the UK... They are a day behind the UK in terms of deaths per head of population. The notion that there is something uniquely special about Sweden’s demographics that means it is immune from the impacts of CV being experienced elsewhere is already unravelling fast, and their refusal to put in place strong measures means CV has had the chance to sow seeds of death and misery much more abundantly than in those countries that have been actively suppressing it far earlier in its progress, even places like the UK.

I don’t believe I’m exaggerating when I say that Sweden risks experiencing a tragedy that will rock the nation to its core.

Thank you Derbygerbil
I just hope our Irish government with its strict lockdown policy got it right.

Sweden is "officially" open but many places are totally deserted. Swedes are socially isolating without the need for rigid enforcement. Everywhere is much quieter than normal.

DD showed me this from SVT (Swedish TV) yesterday. It is Uppsala - Sweden's 4th largest city.The video montage is taken during the day at places that would normally be heaving with people: the bus station, the train station, the centre of town, outdoor cafes by the river etc
www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/uppsala/

I think that the biggest concern is that Stockholmers (Stockholm is the big hub of cases) will take the virus to the rural areas as Easter skiing is a tradition. The big resorts such as Åre, Idre and Sälen etc have closed early last weekend citing coronavirus. Whether second home owners will still travel is a potential issue - the government has urged against Easter travel but we'll have to wait and see ....

To get the video you need to scroll down a little and click the video link Följ med på en rundtur i ett ödsligt Uppsala (Come with us on a round tour of deserted Uppsala)

I messaged my friend last night and she said pretty much what Lunde is saying. They are isolating as much as possible. Working from home, no socializing or visiting family. They are using their second home though.

Has there been any change in policy re Covid19 and lockdown in Sweden ?

Anyone ?

@LadyEloise no, not yet

Thank you for your reply

@LadyEloise was out with my family today, to buy ice cream in our little town. Restrictions are maximum 50 people, and we all know what we have to do not to be put in isolation. The square was full of people (less than 50) of all ages, all happily queing up and keeping distance. The owner of the ice cream place outside counting people and chatting. Giving people numbers to return later so they could distance themselves even more rather than queing. Worked so well, and without lockdown. As long as we all do as we’re told. No doubt, this will soon be ruined as in most other countries though...

@LadyEloise

I think the Irish and Danish responses have been the best ones in Europe

How is Sweden doing now. Toy kniwledge the Danes are slowly going to reintroduce children back to nursery and primary schools next week.

What worries me is we will have a second wave of Covid19 as happened with Spanish flu in 1918. The second wave was deadlier than the first.

What's the average population density in Sweden?

I went to Malmo for the day in feb last year when I went to Copenhagen and there was barely anyone there! It was weird, felt sort of locked down already!

Has Sweden introduced tougher rules ?

@beanaseireann not yet. But I read that the recommendations (no crowds etc) now will last until 31 Dec.