Sweden staying open amid the coronavirus pandemic

[Thiel]

I just checked Sweden's COVID-19 stats. They have about 6800 cases of the coronavirus.



While other European countries are under strict lockdowns, Swedes can still go to school, drink at pubs, and mingle in parks and streets. The country's chief epidemiologist says the unusual measures are rooted in national values of voluntarism and trust



The Scandinavian country is pursuing what Prime Minister Stefan Lofven calls a "common sense" response to the pandemic by keeping the country largely functioning and aiming health measures at the most vulnerable.



"We who are adults need to be exactly that – adults. Not spread panic or rumours," Mr. Lofven said in a televised address to the country last week. "No one is alone in this crisis, but each person has a heavy responsibility."



The approach has put Sweden at odds with many countries across Europe, including its neighbours – Denmark, Norway and Finland – where almost all public venues have been shut and people have been ordered to stay indoors. In Sweden, most bars, restaurants and schools remain open, and people continue to mingle in parks and on city streets.



The government has introduced social-distancing guidelines and encouraged people to work from home. Gatherings of more than 50 people have also been banned, and some businesses, notably cinemas and ski resorts, have voluntarily closed. But few of the measures are mandatory, and almost no one expects Sweden to adopt the kind of fines and police checks that have become commonplace in Britain, France, Spain and Italy.



"In Sweden we are following the tradition that we have in Sweden and working very much with voluntary measures, very much with informing the public about the right things to do. That has worked reasonably well so far," Anders Tegnell, Sweden's chief epidemiologist and main architect of the policy, said in an interview from Stockholm.



Dr. Tegnell said most people are travelling less, working from home and adhering to social-distancing measures.



"We know that [with] these kinds of voluntary measures that we put in place in Sweden, we can basically go on with them for months and years if necessary." And even though the economy has slowed, "it has the potential to start moving as usual very, very quickly once these things are over."

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-why-is-sweden-staying-open-amid-the-coronavirus-pandemic/">https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/a ... -pandemic/">https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-why-is-sweden-staying-open-amid-the-coronavirus-pandemic/

[Anonymous]

That is a lot more sensible than what the rest of the Western world is doing. East Asian countries haven't shut down their economies forcing a depression. We should isolate vulnerable groups like seniors. Those types of measures are sustainable. Shutting down our economies is not.

[caskur]

That is a lot more sensible than what the rest of the Western world is doing. East Asian countries have shut down their economies forcing a depression. We should isolate vulnerable groups like seniors. Those types of measures are sustainable. Shutting down our economies is not.

While seniors die, so do your average younger person but they also get so sick, they clog hospitals putting front liners in the virus path. Would you like being in the path of the virus day in, day out watching people suffer and die? Even the ones who do survive will have permanent lung conditions.



The economy is nothing NOTHING compared to not containing this virus.



Swedes are dopey hapless tools if they haven't adopted the rest of the worlds strict rules... They are just going to make the rest of us stay in lockdown LONGER.

[caskur]

Boris has been hospitalized and tigers in a Bronx Zoo looks like they may have contacted covid-19.

[Anonymous]

That is a lot more sensible than what the rest of the Western world is doing. East Asian countries have shut down their economies forcing a depression. We should isolate vulnerable groups like seniors. Those types of measures are sustainable. Shutting down our economies is not.

While seniors die, so do your average younger person but they also get so sick, they clog hospitals putting front liners in the virus path. Would you like being in the path of the virus day in, day out watching people suffer and die? Even the ones who do survive will have permanent lung conditions.



The economy is nothing NOTHING compared to not containing this virus.



Swedes are dopey hapless tools if they haven't adopted the rest of the worlds strict rules... They are just going to make the rest of us stay in lockdown LONGER.

Staying away from hospitals would be part of the isolation measures..



Shen is right, total isolation instead of targeted isolation isn't sustainable.

[Thiel]

That is a lot more sensible than what the rest of the Western world is doing. East Asian countries have shut down their economies forcing a depression. We should isolate vulnerable groups like seniors. Those types of measures are sustainable. Shutting down our economies is not.

While seniors die, so do your average younger person but they also get so sick, they clog hospitals putting front liners in the virus path. Would you like being in the path of the virus day in, day out watching people suffer and die? Even the ones who do survive will have permanent lung conditions.



The economy is nothing NOTHING compared to not containing this virus.



Swedes are dopey hapless tools if they haven't adopted the rest of the worlds strict rules... They are just going to make the rest of us stay in lockdown LONGER.

Staying away from hospitals would be part of the isolation measures..



Shen is right, total isolation instead of targeted isolation isn't sustainable.

Lockdowns are supposed to be about five weeks or so. No economy can sustain being shut down for three or more months. The health system would collapse from lack of funding and production.

[Anonymous]

Every single Western country has bungled this from the get go. Of course their public health officials have given them bad information.

[Anonymous]

I just checked Sweden's COVID-19 stats. They have about 6800 cases of the coronavirus.



While other European countries are under strict lockdowns, Swedes can still go to school, drink at pubs, and mingle in parks and streets. The country's chief epidemiologist says the unusual measures are rooted in national values of voluntarism and trust



The Scandinavian country is pursuing what Prime Minister Stefan Lofven calls a "common sense" response to the pandemic by keeping the country largely functioning and aiming health measures at the most vulnerable.



"We who are adults need to be exactly that – adults. Not spread panic or rumours," Mr. Lofven said in a televised address to the country last week. "No one is alone in this crisis, but each person has a heavy responsibility."



The approach has put Sweden at odds with many countries across Europe, including its neighbours – Denmark, Norway and Finland – where almost all public venues have been shut and people have been ordered to stay indoors. In Sweden, most bars, restaurants and schools remain open, and people continue to mingle in parks and on city streets.



The government has introduced social-distancing guidelines and encouraged people to work from home. Gatherings of more than 50 people have also been banned, and some businesses, notably cinemas and ski resorts, have voluntarily closed. But few of the measures are mandatory, and almost no one expects Sweden to adopt the kind of fines and police checks that have become commonplace in Britain, France, Spain and Italy.



"In Sweden we are following the tradition that we have in Sweden and working very much with voluntary measures, very much with informing the public about the right things to do. That has worked reasonably well so far," Anders Tegnell, Sweden's chief epidemiologist and main architect of the policy, said in an interview from Stockholm.



Dr. Tegnell said most people are travelling less, working from home and adhering to social-distancing measures.



"We know that [with] these kinds of voluntary measures that we put in place in Sweden, we can basically go on with them for months and years if necessary." And even though the economy has slowed, "it has the potential to start moving as usual very, very quickly once these things are over."

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-why-is-sweden-staying-open-amid-the-coronavirus-pandemic/">https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/a ... -pandemic/">https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-why-is-sweden-staying-open-amid-the-coronavirus-pandemic/

I just saw something about the Swedish approach on the news. Sweden's death rate is nearly three times higher on a per capita basis than neighbouring Norway that is under a lockdown.

[cc]

Saw that coming ^^ ... posted on it several days ago on main board when their leaders proclaimed their choice to in effect ignore it



We'll see how that works out




 

Every single Western country has bungled this from the get go. Of course their public health officials have given them bad information.

what should the West be doing? Don't just put down ... Suggest solutions ... what are the secrets?

[Anonymous]

Saw that coming ^^ ... posted on it several days ago on main board when their leaders proclaimed their choice to in effect ignore it



We'll see how that works out

I don't see the Swedish voluntarism approach lasting much longer.

[Oak]

That is a lot more sensible than what the rest of the Western world is doing. East Asian countries have shut down their economies forcing a depression. We should isolate vulnerable groups like seniors. Those types of measures are sustainable. Shutting down our economies is not.

While seniors die, so do your average younger person but they also get so sick, they clog hospitals putting front liners in the virus path. Would you like being in the path of the virus day in, day out watching people suffer and die? Even the ones who do survive will have permanent lung conditions.



The economy is nothing NOTHING compared to not containing this virus.



Swedes are dopey hapless tools if they haven't adopted the rest of the worlds strict rules... They are just going to make the rest of us stay in lockdown LONGER.

Staying away from hospitals would be part of the isolation measures..



Shen is right, total isolation instead of targeted isolation isn't sustainable.

Had we all shut down at the end of February all at once in the US. we'd be done by now.

[Anonymous]

Every single Western country has bungled this from the get go. Of course their public health officials have given them bad information.

what should the West be doing? Don't just put down ... Suggest solutions ... what are the secrets?

Watch what Western countries have done and don't do it. They did do some things right, but they did them too late. We allowed flights from Iran until the second week of March.



Here's what the Iron Chink would do if I was empress.



-Targeted lockdowns of vulnerable populations.



-Stores, schools, churches, and factories would be allowed to remain open, but temperature checks would be required and people who have a fever would be reported to a quarantine. Have a provincial call in number for those who have a fever. No exceptions.



-A digital tracking system for those who are infected and those in quarantine. It has been super successful in wealthy East Asian countries. Fuck privacy concerns.



-Require the use of masks in public.



-Fast track approval of treatments for symptoms and get those treatments out to hospitals, paharmacies, and walk -in clinics.



The premier of this province can't even say when his lockdown will end. This is a terrible approach with no end in sight.

[cc]

Saw that coming ^^ ... posted on it several days ago on main board when their leaders proclaimed their choice to in effect ignore it



We'll see how that works out

I don't see the Swedish voluntarism approach lasting much longer.

https://www.blazingcatfur.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Sweden-coronavirus-deaths.png">



Canada is doubling every 3 days ... at the bad end of the list



US - 4 days



https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus#the-growth-rate-of-covid-19-deaths">https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus# ... -19-deaths">https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus#the-growth-rate-of-covid-19-deaths

[Anonymous]

Every single Western country has bungled this from the get go. Of course their public health officials have given them bad information.

what should the West be doing? Don't just put down ... Suggest solutions ... what are the secrets?

Watch what Western countries have done and don't do it. They did do some things right, but they did them too late. We allowed flights from Iran until the second week of March.



Here's what the Iron Chink would do if I was empress.



-Targeted lockdowns of vulnerable populations.



-Stores, schools, churches, and factories would be allowed to remain open, but temperature checks would be required and people who have a fever would be reported to a quarantine. Have a provincial call in number for those who have a fever. No exceptions.



-A digital tracking system for those who are infected and those in quarantine. It has been super successful in wealthy East Asian countries. Fuck privacy concerns.



-Require the use of masks in public.



-Fast track approval of treatments for symptoms and get those treatments out to hospitals, paharmacies, and walk -in clinics.



The premier of this province can't even say when his lockdown will end. This is a terrible approach with no end in sight.

Jason Kenney has hinted that this could last into June or beyond.

 

[Anonymous]

Every single Western country has bungled this from the get go. Of course their public health officials have given them bad information.

what should the West be doing? Don't just put down ... Suggest solutions ... what are the secrets?

Watch what Western countries have done and don't do it. They did do some things right, but they did them too late. We allowed flights from Iran until the second week of March.



Here's what the Iron Chink would do if I was empress.



-Targeted lockdowns of vulnerable populations.



-Stores, schools, churches, and factories would be allowed to remain open, but temperature checks would be required and people who have a fever would be reported to a quarantine. Have a provincial call in number for those who have a fever. No exceptions.



-A digital tracking system for those who are infected and those in quarantine. It has been super successful in wealthy East Asian countries. Fuck privacy concerns.



-Require the use of masks in public.



-Fast track approval of treatments for symptoms and get those treatments out to hospitals, paharmacies, and walk -in clinics.



The premier of this province can't even say when his lockdown will end. This is a terrible approach with no end in sight.

The one in bold is critical. Western countries have not utilized technology as much as they should and they are paying the price for it.