- Sweden uses a slightly different strategy. So it is clear that it will be extremely important to understand how well or not well that strategy works. So what we're saying here is: Monitor it carefully, evaluate it very carefully and let us learn and share that knowledge, says Richard Pebody, WHO epidemiologist for Europe.

Avoid criticizing

The WHO, which is a UN body, has a more or less pronounced policy to avoid criticizing its member countries. So it is diplomatic statements that are made, whether political or in this interview more professional.

But the mantra of WHO throughout this pandemic is that Sweden and all countries affected by large spread of infection need to find suspected and established cases of covid-19 and isolate them.

And not only isolate these cases - but also all the people they have had contact with.

- That everyone really stays at home and avoids contact with other people, and that the contacts do too. It will help reduce the spread of infection, says Richard Pebody, WHO epidemiologist.

We ask state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell about WHO's main recommendations.

- Yes, but the first bit is exactly the same in Sweden. We have even harder than WHO really, we not only say: do you have typical corona symptoms, but we say that you have the smallest symptom you should be at home, because we know that the symptoms are very variable in the beginning.

Clear instructions

But the difference is that contacts are not isolated?

- No, not entirely, but they do, however, receive very clear instructions on staying home at the slightest symptoms, so that we are a bit on the way there, says Anders Tegnell.

- It's a bit of a volume issue, too. I mean how many people can keep away from society without having a proper impact on our ability to carry out health care. And our ability to carry out an elderly care. And that aspect you have to bring along, you can't neglect it completely, says Anders Tegnell.