Sweden says herd immunity test was successful, but other figures show

Sweden is one of the most shocking exceptions to this parody pandemic. The country did not follow the example of other European countries, the vast majority of which have taken strict measures to reduce the spread of the virus. Swedes continued their lives normally, circulating on busy streets and enjoying their free time in crowded bars and restaurants.

Younger children continued to go to school, although universities and schools for older students turned to distance learning. Businesses, from hair salons to coffee shops, have been open all this time, although people have been advised to work from home whenever possible.

On April 7, the government introduced a bill that would allow it to act quickly and make decisions on temporary measures when necessary. Visits to nursing homes and hospitals have been banned since April 1, and the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs has urged citizens to avoid unnecessary travel, adding: “Keep your distance and take personal responsibility.”

In neighboring Scandinavian countries, which have similar cultural, geographic and sociological characteristics, the image was diametrically opposite. Finland declared a state of emergency, closed schools and banned protests of more than 10 people on March 16, restricted travel to and from the Wushu region on March 28, and closed restaurants, cafes and bars on April 1.

Denmark announced a widespread blockade on March 11 and was one of the first countries in Europe to close borders, shops, schools and restaurants and ban large gatherings. Norway began introducing travel restrictions in mid-March and has since closed schools and children’s centers, banned the use of holiday homes, canceled events and closed businesses such as hairdressers and beauty salons.

The death rate in Sweden has now increased significantly more than in many other European countries, reaching more than 21 deaths per 100,000 people, according to Johns Hopkins University.

In contrast, Denmark recorded more than seven deaths per 100,000 people, and both Norway and Finland had fewer than four.

Furthermore, Sweden has recorded 18,926 cases of coronary heart disease and 2,274 deaths in a population of 10.3 million people, almost the same as in Greece.

Denmark, respectively, has 8,851 cases and 427 deaths in a population of 5.8 million, Norway 7,599 cases and 205 deaths among its 5.4 million people, and Finland 4,695 patients and 193 deaths in a population of 5.5 million.

Denmark and Norway are now beginning to relax quarantine measures, with children returning to school in the past 10 days, in smaller numbers to maintain the necessary distance between the two meters. Hairdressers and other companies will reopen in Norway on Monday. Finland has extended its restrictions until May 13.

A little further afield, the Czech Republic, which has a population similar (10.7 million) to Sweden, registered 7,404 cases and 221 deaths, about two deaths per 100,000 people. This was followed by a completely different approach to the pandemic, closing schools, restaurants, bars, and most stores, restricting travel, and imposing mandatory quarantine on travelers from high-risk areas in early March. It has also made it mandatory for people to wear face masks in public places.

Sweden did not have as many deaths as Italy or Spain, which recorded around 44 and 49 deaths per 100,000 people, respectively, or even the United Kingdom, with more than 31 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. However, there are complex differences between Sweden and countries that make direct comparisons difficult, such as Italy, which has a much older population, more smokers, and a higher number of multi-member households and families.

The Swedish approach

On March 28, a report signed by 2,000 Swedish researchers, including Carl Henrik Heldin, president of the Nobel Foundation, urged the government “to take immediate measures to comply with the recommendations of the World Health Organization.”

The scientists added: “The measures should be aimed at reducing contact between people in society and increasing population testing for Covid-19.”

“These measures should be implemented as soon as possible, as is currently the case in neighboring European countries,” they wrote. “Our country should not be an exception to the ban on pandemics.”

The report also said that the effort to “create a collective immunity, in the same way that occurs during a flu epidemic, has little scientific support.”

Swedish authorities have denied they have a strategy to create so-called herd immunity, an idea the British government is said to have previously considered, drawing widespread criticism before imposing a strict blockade.

“It just caught our eye then.” Sweden shares the same goals with all other countries: saving lives and protecting public health, “Health and Social Affairs Minister Lena Halengren told CNN.

Successful experiment (?)

Jan Albert, a professor in the Karolinska Institute’s Department of Microbiology, told CNN: “It is clear that Sweden has more deaths so far.” [από πολλές άλλες ευρωπαϊκές χώρες], and this is probably due at least in part to the fact that we did not have such strict restrictions. “

But he said most scientists in Sweden were “relatively quiet” about the herd’s immunity plan because they believed it could work.

“The truth is that no one in Sweden, not even elsewhere, knows what the best strategy is.” Time will tell, “he said, adding that strict restrictions” only serve to level the curve, and leveling the curve does not mean that cases disappear, they just move over time. “

Furthermore, according to local health officials, Sweden’s health system is working well, as the number of people treated in intensive care units has been stable for several weeks, “making it successful in that regard.”

However, one flaw they recognize is transmission of the disease to elderly care units, where many deaths have occurred.

Of course, the fact that Sweden does not have a complete blockade does not mean that it is working properly while the measures are constantly reevaluated with the help of experts. Concentrations of more than 50 people are prohibited in the country, among other things, and people are urged to avoid unnecessary domestic travel.

“It just caught our attention then. We have almost the same goals as any other government … And as we always say, we are fully prepared to follow more binding regulations if the population does not comply,” the Foreign Minister of the country, Ann Linde.

As he said, the rather high number of deaths “was certainly not part of the plan.”

The Swedish Public Health Service predicted this week that nearly a third of people in Stockholm would be infected with Covid-19 before May 1. That means more than 200,000 people, a far greater number of cases than ever.

Less than 24 hours later, there was confusion when the health organization announced on Twitter that it had “detected errors” in the report, but then said that the mathematical model had been updated and reiterated that 26% of Stockholm’s population would be infected by first. May According to the same estimates, there are about 75 unconfirmed cases for every registered Covid-19 patient, but the peak of the epidemic has passed.

Epidemiologist Anders Tegnell said on Friday that his country would probably be in a better position to resist a second wave of crowning, as many people in Sweden have been exposed to the virus.

He told the BBC that the relatively relaxed approach “had worked in some respects” as “there are always at least 20% of intensive care beds available for Covid-19 patients.”

When asked if the death toll would be lower if Sweden had followed the same path as other European countries to impose strict restrictions, he said: “This is a very difficult question to answer at this stage. At least 50% of our deaths they were in nursing homes and nursing homes, and it’s difficult to understand how a blockade would prevent the disease from spreading to those units. “

Whether Sweden’s strategy has been successful or not may not be clear in the coming months, but as countries around the world count the dead and wonder if they could have done more to stop the spread of the virus, people is watching and judges …

(With information from CNN, BBC, Guardian)