STOCKHOLM — After weeks of lockdown in the U.K., seeing people out in Stockholm‘s restaurants and bars enjoying some blissfully sunny weather has been a welcome shock to the system. But Sweden’s approach to the novel coronavirus is a controversial one.
It does seem that much of what has been reported in the foreign press misrepresents or over simplifies the situation in Sweden. It is not “business as usual” here. The government has just simply put more responsibility on the individual.
There is a voluntary lockdown in place. People are advised to work from home where possible and maintain social distancing. They are told not to visit elderly relatives and of course wash their hands. The local economy has still suffered.
With new numbers now suggesting Sweden has as many deaths per million of the population as some of Europe’s hardest hit — like Italy and Spain — government resolve will be tested. Sweden does calculate all deaths in the country — as opposed to just hospital deaths — which gives officials some space to argue for their approach. But if the numbers rocket, they’ll have to think again.
Bamsterman
Article URL : https://abcnews.go.com/International/life-sweden-amid-coronavirus-pandemic-reporters-notebook/story?id=70286329