Prime Minister of Sweden Stefan löfven has demanded a public inquiry into strategies to combat the coronavirus in the country. Victims of the epidemic were more than 5,400 of the Swedes, compared to 600 dead in Denmark, and an even smaller number of victims in neighboring Norway and Finland. In Sweden, the fifth highest rate of deaths from the coronavirus in the world per capita. Many attribute this to the absence of rigid restrictive measures and not careful the treatment of persons in nursing homes.
Stefan löfven has ordered a public investigation into how the country copes with coronavirus crisis amid growing criticism of soft approach to the restrictions.
Sweden, unlike the rest of Scandinavia and most other European countries, decided not to close the restaurants, bars, schools and stores to combat the spread of the virus. The results were grim: the death rate per capita has risen to fifth place in the world after Belgium, the UK, Spain and Italy, despite the fact that the country is sparsely populated and includes exemplary hospitals.
“the Question is not whether to change Sweden as a result of this investigation – the question is how it will change,” – said the Prime Minister at a press conference.
the Commission of inquiry will have the full right to study how the virus came to Sweden, how it has spread around the country, what measures the government and other authorities and how they have affected the situation.
Criticism in Sweden is concentrated mostly on the number of deaths among elderly residents of nursing homes, which constitute the majority of deaths from the virus, the Swedes complain late start extensive testing. “We are unable to protect the most vulnerable, the elderly, despite our best intentions,” said the Prime Minister.
At the same time, the chief epidemiologist of Sweden Anders Tegnell, who became the face of the Swedish anti-virus strategy, believes that it is still not clear if a total lock. He is ready to defend the idea that the Swedish soft measures were quite effective.
Epidemiologist is confident that the wisdom of the strategy of partial limitations will be obvious later. “Fall will be the second wave. Sweden will have a high level of immunity, and the number of cases is likely to be quite low,” said Tegnell. The expert expects that herd immunity will help the Swedes to cope with a new outbreak without major losses.
At the same time do not agree with other scientists. A study published in may, showed that only 7.3% of residents of Stockholm have developed antibodies to the coronavirus. This casts doubt on the possibility of reaching Sweden, the herd immunity in the neeat the future. In such circumstances, the second wave may not be less deadly than the first.
the Commission will present a report on the care of older people at the end of November, although final conclusions must be made only in 2022, ahead of national elections. Depending on what kind of results will come the scientists, the alignment of forces before elections is subject to change. And it is not known in whose favor – at the peak of the crisis the party of Leuven began to give way to the right “Swedish Democrats”, but in recent months the Prime Minister was able to win back the support of the people.
According to statistics from the health authorities, the number of confirmed cases COVID-19 in Sweden Thursday, July 2, crossed the mark of 70 000 and the number of deaths rose by 41, reaching 5411.
