Sweden’s state epidemiologist said the country’s controversial relaxed plan to address the coronavirus did not work, as the death toll has exceeded that of neighboring countries.
“If we were to encounter the same illness with the same knowledge that we have today, I think our response would land somewhere in between what Sweden did and what the rest of the world has done,” said Anders Tegnell, the epidemiologist in charge of Sweden’s COVID-19 response team, in an interview with Sveriges Radio.
Sweden’s population of 10 million has recorded 4,468 deaths and 38,589 infections. Countries surrounding Sweden saw a much lower death toll, with Denmark at 580 deaths, Norway at 237 deaths, and Finland at 320 deaths.
Sweden’s response to the coronavirus was relaxed compared with other countries in the world. Gatherings above 50 people and visits to nursing homes were banned, but restaurants, gyms, and schools for those under 16 were still open. The government, however, did highly discourage going to nonessential businesses despite not shutting them down.
Sweden’s people were supportive of the plan until recently, when they began to see how high the death toll is, the failure of the government to administer mass testing for the virus, and the restricted travel to other countries they are facing, Tegnell said. Surrounding countries have banned travel from countries that saw a high infection rate from the virus, including Sweden.
“There is quite obviously a potential for improvement in what we have done,” Tegnell said. The admission has come as a shock to many since Tegnell had criticized major lockdowns during the pandemic. He did not specify what improvements he would have made to his plan.
“It is disturbing that Swedes are considered somewhat more unsafe than others in our part of Europe,” said Carl Bildt, former Swedish prime minister. Tegnell and his family have received death threats in the past month because of Sweden’s response to the virus.
Sweden has been in touch with Denmark’s prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, in an attempt to allow people in some regions in Sweden that were not hit as hard by the virus to be allowed to travel to the neighboring country.
