- The cause of death in Sweden from January to June was the highest in the country in that period since a famine swept the country 150 years ago.
- The country recorded 51,405 deaths in the first half of this year, according to Reuters, its most deaths in that period since 1869.
- Sweden’s death toll is close – because it – unlike many other countries – has never imposed strictly curtailed measures in response to the new coronavirus.
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After refusing to introduce a complete coronavirus lockon, Sweden recorded in the first half of this year its highest death toll from any similar period in the past 150 years.
Sweden recorded 51,405 deaths from January to June, according to figures from Statistics Office reported by Reuters.
That was his highest death toll in that period of six months since 1869, when the country was dealing with a famine that had begun two years earlier; 55,431 Swedes died during that period.
Sweden’s death toll was 10% higher than its average for the past five years, Reuters reported. There was a spike in April, when deaths were 40% higher than average.
Sweden’s Coronavirus response has attracted worldwide attention because – unlike in many countries – its government has never implemented strictly restricted measures in response to the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus. Instead, it left shops, bars and restaurants largely open and students to attend school.
Sweden’s state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell, widely recognized as the architect of the country’s response to the pandemic, justified Sweden’s response by saying that countries that introduced strict lockdowns were likely to do so later in the year. years large second waves will suffer, while Sweden’s would be smaller.
Tegnell suggested that by opting for strict protection, Sweden might be able to achieve herd immunity – the theory that a virus would stop hosts in a population once enough people had been infected and developed immunity.
In April, he predicted that by May 40, people in the Swedish capital, Stockholm, would develop coronavirus antibodies that may contribute to COVID-19 immunity – although it is not yet clear to what extent antibodies provide long-term immunity. for the virus. A recent study by University College London estimated that a significantly smaller percentage of people in Stockholm – 17% – had developed antibodies around that time.
As of Thursday morning, Sweden had reported 5,802 deaths of people who had caught the coronavirus.
This is significantly higher compared to Nordic neighbors of Sweden. Norway had 262 coronavirus deaths reported as of Thursday, while Finland reported 334. It is also one of the least affected countries in the world in terms of coronavirus deaths per capita.
