Here, two researchers meet on the Swedish line in the corona crisis

Sweden's corona strategy differs in Europe and has been both questioned and criticized in recent days. Among other things, when six virology researchers called for the use of oral protection in public environments and in care. The Public Health Agency's guidelines for infection risk, which differ from those of the WHO, were also questioned.

One of the more notable posts in the debate came in mid-April when 22 researchers published a joint debate article in Dagens Nyheter. They criticized Sweden's corona strategy, accused officials at the Public Health Authority of lacking talent to curb the epidemic and felt that politicians had to take over. 

Stefan Hanson, an infectious doctor and a philosophy doctor in international health, is one of the 22 researchers behind the debate article. He is critical of the Swedish line and calls for more discussion.

- We have come together in what can almost be likened to a mass psychosis. We have the tags out. We don't want to hear any criticism, he says.

The article was criticized from several directions. Among other things, for inaccurate death figures, the comparison with Italy and for the researchers' rhetoric. 

One of the critics is Anders Björkman, infectious physician and professor of infectious medicine, who was previously close friend and colleague with Stefan Hanson.

Björkman thinks that the article is obscene and that they tripped with data. In a reply, he wrote that it is the 22 researchers who are talentless.

- Here are 22 researchers who give up on what they term as talentless officials. And for me, it's not just that. Without also the reader who may not be academically educated as you delve into data that I perceive as fake news. Then I become a rabid, he says.

Today, Stefan and Anders are on different sides in the debate on Sweden's corona strategy. 50 years ago they were close friends. In the Meeting they meet for the first time in several years.

Stefan thinks that the Swedish strategy is very passive, while Anders sees it as a fairly decent way.

- We have such great prerequisites to cope with this, so it just requires a different attitude and believe that we can do this, says Stefan.

- I know I have used the word just enough at some point. It was because I thought that some kind of middle ground had been found between shutting down society and preventing infection, says Anders.