Sweden posted a record number of deaths in the first half of 2020, surpassed only by the country’s death toll in the entire 1869, according to multiple reports.
The news emerged from a Wednesday announcement by the country’s Statistics Bureau, via Reuters. Sweden’s lax approach to coronavirus protections resulted in a turbulent rise in virus – related deaths in mid-April.
The outlet noted that the 4,500 coronavirus-related deaths in Sweden were far exceeding those of other Nordic countries by the end of June, but were lower than other areas such as Britain and Spain. Sweden’s death toll from coronavirus has since increased to more than 5,800 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data.
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A total of 51,405 deaths occurred in Sweden from January to June, according to government data. This record is greater than the annual death toll of the country since 1869, per multiple reports, when 55,431 Swedes died, partly from starvation.
COVID-19 over time swelled the nation’s death by 10% for the average of the period for the previous five years.
Instead of stricter measures, Sweden had called on its people to take personal responsibility for managing viruses. In early June, Dr. Anders Tegnell, the nation’s leading epidemiologist, said the country could have done more to prevent the spread of viruses.
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Fox News’ Frank Miles contributed to this report.
