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In Norway, 265 people have lost their lives as a result of the corona pandemic, compared to the Swedish death toll: 5,851 people.
Now Norway’s head of infection control Frode Forland says what he thinks the difference is.
– We hit hard in March and at a good time. The whole community understood that it was serious and we had a quick effect, he tells SVT.
Frode Forland can be described as the Norwegian equivalent of our state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell. In an interview with SVT’s “Morning Studio”, he talks about the difference in the crown strategy of the two neighboring countries and what the result has been.
– We have probably finished at about the same level now, the latest figures show that we both have a small increase again. But we are very happy that Sweden has dropped to a similar level as Norway and that we can open the border again. But we think it is a high level in Norway, he says.
The mentioned increase is due to two regional outbreaks. One dating back to student parties in Bergen and another case, where the crown was extended after a religious event in Sarpsborg near the Swedish border.
Photo: Fredrik Hagen / TT
Norway’s head of infection control, Frode Forland.
A dead fraction
Norway now has about 28 corona cases per 100,000 inhabitants, which is on par with the current spread of the infection in Sweden, which is slightly lower. But during the spring, the progress of the pandemic varied greatly between countries.
In Sweden, 5,860 people have died. In Norway, the death toll at the time of writing is 265 people.
– We hit hard in March in Norway and were lucky with the timing. This meant that the entire community understood the seriousness and that we got a quick effect from the measures that were implemented. We reduced the spread of infection in society at large and in vulnerable groups, the elderly and the sick. I think that’s the explanation why we have fewer deaths in Norway than in Sweden, he says in Morgonstudion.
Photo: Pontus Orre
State epidemiologist Anders Tegnell.
During the spring, Frode Forland leveled harsh criticism of the Swedish strategy and experts Anders Tegnell and Johan Giesecke. But this shouldn’t have damaged Forland’s relationship with the two colleagues:
– Giesecke is my old boss and Tegnell my good colleague who I meet in web meetings every week. So it’s okay to discuss strategy openly. And Johan has emailed an apology for the harsh tone, he says.
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