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More than 7,000 people have died with covid-19 in Sweden and the expansion of society continues throughout the country.
According to various experts, the rise in the death toll is partly due to the fact that many Swedes are still living like last summer.
– We were just a little slow when he started to walk away again, says infection control professor Jan Albert.
The situation remains dire with a high spread of the infection in the country, reports from county administrative boards to the government show.
At the Public Health Agency press conference on Thursday, state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell announced that the number of people infected with COVID-19 in Sweden has reached something of a plateau, but that the death toll continues to rise.
– It is not entirely illogical considering that we had a high level of spread of the infection, he added.
On Thursday, FHM reported that 7,007 people have died with covid-19 in Sweden.
An uptrend that does not seem to be reversing at present.
“The whole situation exploded”
According to Björn Olsen, chief physician and professor of infectious diseases at Uppsala University, the high number of deaths is due to the fact that we have brought the behavior from this summer to autumn.
– What we see now is the sowing of what we sowed this summer. Pretty low infection rates, almost no deaths, everything started to recede. You bring that behavior into the fall, people start gathering and then the whole situation explodes, he explained in Aktuellt on Wednesday.
Additionally, he noted that efforts to limit the spread came too late.
– We have been reactive all the time and not proactive. We needed much more efficient infection detection, testing and isolation. Had we had it with us from the beginning during the fall, we might have been able to stop this in time, Olsen explained, adding that he thinks the curve will continue to point up for a while longer:
– We can reach temporary plateau phases, but as we get closer to Christmas, there is a tendency for it to get even worse.
Photo: PATRIK LUNDIN / AFTONBLADET
Björn Olsen, chief physician and professor of infectious diseases at Uppsala University.
“I thought it was over”
Jan Albert, professor of infection control at Karolinska Institutet, also shares Olsen’s view that this summer’s behavior continued into the fall.
– I think that the feeling that “great, now it’s over” invaded us, despite the fact that there were many indications that we would have a greater spread of the infection. Both our own behavior, as well as the signals from the authorities, were a bit silly and it was not really understood that this depended on each one of us.
Despite the stricter recommendations, Jan Albert also believes that one should have acted sooner.
– We were just a little late and too slow when this started to drift away again. At the same time, it is easy to look in the rear view mirror and I still don’t think we have seen the full effect of the measures that have been recently implemented.
Photo: Janerik Henrsson / TT
Jan Albert, professor of infection control at Karolinska Institutet.
“Everyone in society is responsible”
According to him, the high mortality rates are due to the fact that the spread of the infection in society is great and reaches the most vulnerable, such as those who live in special housing.
– It has been shown that it is very difficult to keep the infection outside the homes, this does not only apply in Sweden. If there is a lot of social spread, it is unfortunately difficult to keep the infection away from there. However, I think they learned a lot from this spring and took a lot of action, but this infection is very misleading and some have been shown to have had very mild symptoms and were not aware of it themselves. Therefore, it has been difficult to protect the houses completely.
– Although the staff probably brought the infection, all members of the community who have not followed the recommendations are responsible for this. It goes hand in hand.
Photo: Magnus Hjalmarson Neideman / SvD / TT
Joacim Rocklöv, Professor in the Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine at Umeå University.
“Late action and direct advice”
Joacim Rocklöv, a professor in the Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine at Umeå University, also agrees that reduced social expansion could have limited the expansion of the country’s special housing.
– I think it would have been necessary to implement more powerful measures earlier, as well as perhaps improve security routines and introduce rapid tests for staff. Then it may also be the case that some regions and municipalities have handled it better or worse.
According to him, the fact that Sweden’s curve continues to point upwards, unlike many European countries, is due to several factors:
– Late action, a bit rough advice, and possibly less motivation to act as risks have been minimized over a longer period of time. Also, I think it has been a bit confusing communication, with ambiguous messages lately.
High mortality rates expected in January
Yngve Gustafson, professor of geriatrics at Umeå University, is also not surprised that the infection has reappeared in homes across the country.
– Of course, the general spread of the infection also reaches the staff, which brings the infection with it. Nursing staff in hospitals and in the care of the elderly must follow current restrictions with special care, but we must also ensure that society follows the guidelines in solidarity.
He also believes that the situation will get worse during the Christmas holidays.
– We will probably have an increase in travel for Christmas and New Years and get to know more family and friends. Every year we have a spike in the spread of the flu during and after the Christmas and New Year holidays. Therefore, I fear a further spread of the infection with a higher burden for health care in January with high death rates in January and February.
– The same risk also exists before sports holidays and Easter.
Photo: JIMMY WIXTRÖM
Yngve Gustafson, professor of geriatrics at Umeå University.
Wold: Avoid the three F’s
Agnes Wold, a professor of clinical bacteriology at the Sahlgrenska Academy of the University of Gothenburg, also notes that efforts are now needed to reduce the overall spread of the infection.
– The infection is best transmitted in groups of friends, at parties and in coffee shops. You shouldn’t party for the next month, just. Ideally, you should also avoid the coffee room. And staff meetings where you are. And with the high spread of the infection, it is more important than ever that you do not accept Grandma and Grandpa as babysitters at this time. You get to meet the older generation outdoors.
– Just avoid the three dangerous Fs: the party, the cafeteria and the family reunion.
Photo: TT
Agnes Wold, professor of clinical bacteriology at the University of Gothenburg.
However, he does not completely agree with the reasoning that the Swedes carried their behavior from summer to fall.
– I believe that the exact same pattern appears in all countries, that the spread of the infection begins to increase sometime in October. It’s hard for me to see that it just has to do with the fact that we are careless, I think it’s about the biology of the virus. Which spreads best in late fall and winter, just plain.
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