Opinion: Sweden continues to stand out on COVID-19 strategy

Seen from the exterior, all Scandinavians appear to resemble one another: very progressive, accustomed to affluence and a excessive lifestyle, and they pay extraordinarily excessive taxes on beer. But all that is, in fact, nonsense. In actuality, there are variations between particular person Scandinavian nations that run as deep as a Norwegian fjord.

It begins with the incontrovertible fact that Scandinavians do not see eye to eye amongst themselves. If you discuss to a Dane, you’ll hear, with out being requested, that the Swedes are smug. The Swedes in flip take into account the Danes to be eccentrics. Both are united by a standard envy of the newly wealthy Norwegians due to their enormous oil and fuel deposits.

Model of the accountable citizen

What makes issues much more sophisticated is that there’s a grain of reality in the stereotypes and prejudices. For instance, the Swedes developed their very own, distinctive mannequin of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. It wasn’t politicians who determined what to do about the insidious illness. They left that to the scientists.

They, in flip, largely gave recommendation by way of the media on how residents ought to behave: washing their palms, maintaining their distance and staying at residence. But it was up to the Swedes to comply with the suggestions which weren’t obligatory.

There have been no lockdowns or steep fines for violations, as in different international locations, since that simply did not match the Swedish mannequin of leaving it to residents to take duty for themselves. But, the strategy had deadly penalties, because it turned out later.

At first, Sweden’s scientists reassured the inhabitants that it was unlikely that the pandemic would unfold in the sparsely populated nation. Restaurants, colleges and retailers remained open. But the virus didn’t cease at Sweden’s borders. It unfold, because it had throughout the world, particularly in nursing houses the place older residents have been weak. The an infection and dying charges have been many occasions larger than in neighboring Nordic international locations.

But, what was stunning was that this failure didn’t undermine the authority of Sweden’s consultants. Instead, they questioned and nonetheless proceed to doubt the recommendation of the World Health Organization (WHO) that carrying a maskthat covers the nostril and mouth protects in opposition to the coronavirus.

End of COVID-19 restrictions

Now the Swedes, like the Danes and the Norwegians, are lifting nearly all coronavirus restrictions. The consultants justify it by pointing to the excessive vaccination fee, particularly amongst the older inhabitants. In current months, anybody who needed to be vaccinated might accomplish that simply. Those who nonetheless held did not get the shot have been thought-about answerable for their very own destiny.

All Scandinavian international locations have a extremely developed, digitalized well being care system. In addition, there are sufficient free beds in the intensive care models. 

Despite the comparatively excessive variety of deaths, most Swedes are fairly proud of their nationwide strategy in opposition to COVID-19 and proceed to belief the state. They level out that the pandemic has induced a lot much less injury to Sweden’s economic system than elsewhere and that colleges and kindergartens remained open all through.

Even if a trainer contracted the virus in current months, the strategy was that so long as the signs have been gentle, the particular person might proceed instructing.

That is unthinkable in different EU international locations, the place academics who get COVID-19 have to keep at residence as a result of in any other case they might unfold the virus additional.

On the different hand, the beneficiant Swedish welfare state solely capabilities if kindergartens and colleges stay open. The excessive taxation fee signifies that mother and father don’t have any alternative however to work so as to maintain their households. Housing in the capital, Stockholm is scarce and costly. It’s essential that youngsters are cared for throughout the day in order that each mother and father can work.

A much less essential press

Unlike German, French or British journalists, who sharply criticize their governments once they make errors, the Swedish press is extra cautious. Instead, it prefers constructive journalism that doesn’t ask exhausting questions of the snug welfare state. That makes it harder for Swedes to come to phrases with their very own errors in preventing the pandemic.

At the finish of the day, one factor is certainly true: The Swedes are certainly totally different.

This article has been translated from German.

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