Covid-19: in Sweden, no confinement but an "amplification of the epidemic"

While in recent weeks, many countries around the world have lifted containment measures against the spread of Covid-19, Sweden stands out. Indeed, it had never imposed such measures since the beginning of the epidemic. This management of the crisis is today denounced by several Swedish specialists, who point to numerous dysfunctions.

While billions of confined people stood firm around the world at the end of March, in Sweden bars, restaurants, hair salons, gyms and even primary and secondary schools remained open.

With some exceptions, however, high schools and museums have been closed, sports meetings canceled and gatherings of more than 50 people banned. Swedes over the age of 70 or in fragile condition were invited to stay at home.

>> Read also: Coronavirus: Sweden, the European exception to containment

Respect for the rules of physical distance was also required in public places. Last Thursday, the government also asked the Swedes to avoid unnecessary international travel and to limit their car trips to two hours, inside the country. 

But even these obligations - minimal compared to the norm in many other countries - have not been rigorously enforced. The police cannot impose a fine for non-compliance with physical distancing measures, but only ask to comply.

"Inaccessible" facing the Covid-19

In the United States, the Swedish approach has won over and received praise from figures on the right. Tucker Carlson, presenter on the American channel Fox News, for example raised the method to the rank of model to follow for the United States.

By arguing in favor of its unconventional policy, Stockholm highlights the high level of trust in Swedish society, arguing that people can be expected to take precautions without being forced to do so. to do.

A vision that does not share Elisabeth Asbrink, Swedish author and independent journalist known for her critical position vis-à-vis the strategy of her country. "There are people who are really hardworking and who do exactly what they have to do, but there are also too many who don't," she said.

In some parts of Stockholm, "people do everything they usually do as if there is no need to keep their distance," she said. "I also went to Malmo [third Swedish city] and many people somehow think they cannot die. They think they are invulnerable to this disease."

According to the data analysis site Statista, the total number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Sweden has increased steadily since the beginning of April. The country has now passed the 30,000 contamination mark. 

More deaths per million than in the United States

Statistics show that Sweden has fared poorly compared to its Scandinavian neighbors who have imposed strict confinement on their people. The Nordic countries are indeed the most relevant for comparison with Sweden, because their health systems are similar, as are their social and political cultures.

According to the British daily The Financial Times, the number of deaths from coronavirus per million inhabitants is 367.5. This is more than in the United States, a country hard hit by the virus, where there are 266.1 deaths per million inhabitants. 

Nicolas Nassim Taleb, professor of risk engineering at New York University, author of the book on probability and uncertainty "The Black Swan", tweeted: "Stop the bullshit. Sweden was HORRIBLE compared to Norway, Denmark and Finland ".

>> Read also: Covid-19: in Europe, tracing applications are developing despite disagreements and controversies

Many Swedish specialists have also opposed the government's strategy to deal with the pandemic. Twenty-two doctors and scientists asked for a change in method, via a forum published in the newspaper Dagens Nyheter on April 14. "The approach must change radically and quickly," they claim. "Since the virus is spreading, we must reinforce physical distancing. Political leaders must intervene. There is no alternative."

The problem of retirement homes

As in many countries, retirement homes are a source of great anxiety. Although visits were banned on March 31, half of the over 70s who died from the Covid-19 suites were living in retirement homes, according to figures released at the end of April. The staff of these establishments had also complained of a lack of protective equipment.

"They do not have time to take care of my mother," complained to AFP a resident of Stockholm who said that she died as a result of neglect in a retirement home, where more one third of its residents have died from the virus.

>> Read also: Covid-19: European tour of deconfinement

"There are things that could be done, and should be done, that would dramatically change the game," said Swedish virologist Lena Einhorn. If Sweden had put in place "a vast campaign of tests especially dedicated to the care of the elderly", she continues, the authorities could have "known who is infected and now, thanks to serological tests, which has been infected".

For Lena Einhorn, two other policies could have made the difference, without requiring strict confinement. "If Sweden had imposed a 14-day quarantine on all members of a household with a Covid-19 patient, we would not have seen this result." On the other hand, if the country "closed restaurants, there would be less possibility of transmission of the virus by aerosol (transmission by air)," she said.

Collective immunity deemed "relevant"

The Swedish government has declared that its policies are effectively decided by scientific officials such as the epidemiologist Anders Tegnell, who has become a known and popular figure in the country since the start of the pandemic.

But Elisabeth Asbrink believes that this functioning has a negative effect on the political debate in Sweden. "The decisions they make are obviously political - they make choices. I think it is a problem that Swedish politicians have had no visible responsibility in this strategy, as is the case in others Nordic countries."

The goal of the country's strategy has been the subject of much debate. "We do not have a strategy of collective immunity" (which occurs when a large proportion of a population contracts a disease and therefore immunizes itself), assured in early May to France 24 Ann Linde, Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs. "We don't want to stop all transmissions. We want to flatten the curve," he continued. 

Statements that leave Lena Eirhorn perplexed. "They don't admit it but, in a low voice, they approve" according to her this strategy of collective immunity. Anders Tegnell in an interview with the newspaper Aftonbladet in March, had also said that collective immunity is "probably becoming more and more relevant as we know this virus".

Article adapted from the original in English by Tiffany Fillon.

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