The public health authority's and Anders Tegnell's message was clear already during the corona crisis: Sweden's elderly would be protected.

Despite this, the infection has hit hard on the country's elderly residents. A significant proportion of Sweden's reported deaths have occurred in elderly care. In the Swedish Radio's "Sunday interview", the state epidemiologist comments on the situation, which he believes highlights several weaknesses in Swedish society.

- It is a terrible situation that we have ended up in that really challenges many parts of society, says Anders Tegnell.

- I think of the elderly care where much of this has happened. Elderly care in Sweden has been discussed for many years and weaknesses in quality have been pointed out. But I do not think anyone could understand how terribly obvious it would become, he continues.

Do not believe in shutdown

The Swedish corona strategy has been criticized both internationally and nationally. But a temporary closure of the community had not stopped the infection from entering the corridors of the country's elderly homes, according to Tegnell.

- How could you have developed elderly care in a few weeks? This is a problem that we have left from the reform of the elderly. I am very doubtful that we could have done so much more for the very complicated business, he says and continues:

- It is very common for people to come with that criticism, that if we had closed down we could have done so much before. But when I ask the question: "Exactly what could we have done that had changed so much?" I don't get that many answers anymore.

"Can see improvements"

That Sweden's death toll stands out in comparison to other Nordic neighboring countries, says Tegnell is an "extremely regrettable situation". At the same time, he hopes that the infection will not hit the other parts of the country with the same strength as in Stockholm.

- Now everyone is working very hard to try to improve the situation - late, I can of course agree with that. But that we can see improvements already shows that there is a lot to do to prevent this situation from recurring outside Stockholm.