Covid in Sweden, the king accuses the government: “The strategy against the pandemic has failed”

“Think of all the people who have not been able to say goodbye to their deceased relatives,” the king said in an excerpt from the interview that will be broadcast on December 21 on Swedish broadcaster SVT. “I think it is a heavy and traumatic experience not to be able to say goodbye,” he added. When asked if he was afraid of being infected, the ruler (74) replied: “Lately the virus has come closer, more and more. It is certainly not what I would like.” In the last 24 hours, new infections have been 8,881.91 deaths.

In numbers, the failure of the Swedish strategy – Sweden has had a much higher coronavirus death rate than its Scandinavian neighbors, who have instead cracked down on the pandemic. In total, in the country of just over 10 million inhabitants, 350,000 cases of Covid and 7,800 victims have been registered. Last month, the king’s son and his wife tested positive. The Swedish pandemic strategy, developed by chief epidemiologist Ansers Tegnell, was based (and still is) on people’s sense of responsibility. In addition to never having imposed a confinement, the government has limited itself to issuing recommendations, without providing sanctions for those who do not follow them. Sweden’s shops, schools, bars and restaurants have never closed; however, last week high schools were asked to switch to distance education. A measure that from Monday also came into force in the Stockholm region. Looking ahead to Christmas, new guidelines have also been published, including avoiding meetings with more than 8 people, meeting outdoors and, if possible, avoiding taking buses and trains.