It seems that Tegnell has been run over – VG

The “Tegnell tattoo” became a phenomenon in Sweden this spring. Plus, the state epidemiologist had some good weeks in late summer when the infection subsided. The strategy seemed to pay off.

But both before and after, most things seem to have gone wrong. – Illusions have guided Swedish decisions, former state epidemiologist Annika Linde told the Telegraph this weekend.

This summer, Tegnell thought that Sweden would escape more easily in the future than Norway. In the leading Financial Times newspaper, he hinted that Finland had to enter a new total lockdown this fall.

But so far this fall, Finland and Norway have had much less infection than Sweden. Tegnell miscalculated when he thought that up to 40 percent in the Swedish capital were immune.

A survey in June indicated that just over 11 percent had antibodies in Stockholm. This will most likely reduce the spread. But obviously not enough.

The central explanation for the many deaths this spring, according to Tegnell, is that Sweden is not protecting the institutions. So it had nothing to do with the high infection in society.

But despite intensified efforts targeting the vulnerable, several nursing homes and institutions have received the crown again this fall.

Deaths are also on the rise in Sweden, although it is not as bad as this spring or as far south in Europe.

But now the prime minister is shaping up to be the new pandemic general. Last week, the Prime Minister of Sweden, Stefan Löfven, introduced a bar stop starting at 10pm.

Anders Tegnell was subsequently asked if this was not a breach of the Swedish strategy, which is to give advice and avoid bans. Tegnell responded that alcohol legislation has always been an exception.

But then the education minister aired the possibility of closing schools after Christmas if the infection doesn’t go down. The threat may indicate that the government is willing to change also what Sweden did well and that it became an example to follow for most European countries.

And then on Monday, the prime minister announced an eight-person gathering ban.

Whether to take responsibility or whether it is populism, the Swedes see otherwise. The chorus in Sweden has been that trust is so high that they don’t need injunctions, people do what the experts say. Tegnell has said that this makes the strategy of the Swedish crown more sustainable.

And of course there are limits to how long you can block.

But now a friendly advice to the government is not enough. Perhaps you also saw the photos of the Finnish ferry last weekend, where hundreds of people gathered at a concert with the band «Chlamydia».

– Don’t go to the gym, don’t go to the library, don’t eat dinner, don’t party, that’s it, Prime Minister Löfven said on Monday.

– This is the government’s decision, Anders Tegnell told Swedish radio later.

Little indicated that he was asked at all. In hindsight, it contributed to the confusion about what was going on.

At a press conference on Tuesday, he did not want to clarify the rule, but referred to the government. He added that the legal has always been on the government table.

What is interesting is precisely that the government is implementing the legislation and seems to be making decisions on its own without waiting for the opinion of experts.

It is true that there has been a cap on assemblies since March. But in Sweden, court mandates have been unpopular and politicians have been sensationally absent from running the crown.

Decisions are said to be based on science. But what if science has not advanced enough?

This pandemic has shown how dissident experts can be. Unsurprisingly, the wisest minds in the world sometimes make mistakes when quick decisions based on a lack of information are needed.

Also in Sweden there is no comprehensive and professional agreement on crown.

Until now, state epidemiologist Tegnell has apparently had the responsibility on his shoulders. It is a great responsibility for a lonely bureaucrat who does not stand for election.

In other countries, governments have had to make their way when there is no final decision, but on the contrary, a series of considerations that intersect and must be weighed against each other.

In Sweden, it is primarily Tegnell, and since he is not so often contradicted, it often seems that there is broad professional agreement on something that is indeed controversial. Like face masks.

On Monday, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended that Swedes wear bandages on questions from a Swedish journalist.

Tegnell rejects that the WHO has recommended it to Sweden and still believes that the evidence for masks is scant.

He believes that this is something that each country considers better on its own, that no situation has arisen where it has anything to do with recommending face masks in Sweden. At the same time, Tegnell’s colleagues at the US infection control agency CDC believe that the bandages protect both the user and the people around them.

It’s tempting to guess that masks will be the next thing the government introduces through Swedish expert advice.

Because if the state epidemiologist is to wear a bandage, the prime minister will probably have to do it first.