As you test you get answers. In recent weeks, Sweden's regions have been testing more and more for covid-19 - and finding more and more cases of the disease.

That the World Health Organization therefore classifies us as one of the countries in the world that has a large increase in confirmed cases is partly correct. On the other hand, it is less understandable that we are also described as one of the countries where the infection accelerates and the health care risks being overloaded - this claim is not supported by other national statistics on covid-19.

Serious cases decrease

Because even though more and more cases of the disease are detected due to increased testing, the vast majority of cases are mild. The number of serious illness cases, as well as hospital admissions, is decreasing, both in ordinary health care and in intensive care. The death toll also falls steadily.

After a peak for a few weeks in April, the mortality rate has dropped and mortality is now down to normal levels for the year.

Sweden is still a risk country in terms of the spread of infection. Denmark only opens its borders to visitors from areas that have fewer than 20 cases of infection per 100,000 inhabitants and currently only Västerbotten County meets the criteria.

The spread of infection on the way down

But it is difficult to interpret the development in any other way than the state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell does - namely that the spread of infection is on the way down in Sweden. Obviously, the best would have been even clearer statistics about this - which we would have had if the regions had started mass testing much earlier in the spring. 

By then, Sweden might not have been classified as a risk country, and perhaps the outside world - not least our neighboring countries - would have been more benevolent towards Swedish tourists this summer.