Sweden haunted by soft approach to Covid
– Sweden, whose softer approach to fighting the novel coronavirus drew global attention, has one of the European Union’s highest rates of new cases – but authorities say the spread is slowing.
In the past two weeks, Sweden was only second to Luxembourg in the EU in terms of new cases per capita with new infections more than six times the EU average.
Unlike most European nations, Sweden never imposed a lockdown and made headlines for its high death toll. It has kept schools for under-16s open and has not shuttered cafes, bars, restaurants and most businesses.
Masks have been recommended only for healthcare personnel.
Over the past 60 days, Sweden has seen a drastic increase in the number of new cases, but authorities stress that serious Covid-19 cases and associated deaths have declined.
“If you increase testing you will find more cases,” deputy state epidemiologist Anders Wallensten said.
“But the more serious cases, those who become sick and need
Stockholm
hospital care have rather decreased.”
In May, Sweden was testing roughly 30 000 people a week but throughout June that was scaled up and in July the figure had more than doubled.
On 31 May, the country had recorded a total of 39 160 cases. On July 16, the number had almost doubled at 76 877, but deaths had only increased by just over 20% to 5 593. In late June, the rising number of cases led the World Health Organisation’s European branch to put Sweden on a list of 11 countries witnessing an “accelerated transmission”. –