Yesterday, Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf said his country “failed” its pandemic response.
Refresher: While other countries enacted strict lockdowns when the pandemic began, Sweden gambled on an open economy and voluntary guidelines, with the goal of eventually reaching herd immunity. The reality:
- Sweden’s economy shrank 8.5% in the first half of the year.
- It’s logged 350,000 cases and 7,800+ deaths (more than its Nordic neighbours combined). On Monday, a government report said officials failed to protect nursing home residents, who account for nearly half of Covid-related deaths in Sweden.
- Hospitals are overwhelmed and healthcare worker resignations are rising.
- Anders Tegnell, Sweden’s Dr. Fauci, admitted there are “no signs of immunity in the population that are slowing down the infection.”
While Tegnell has defended his approach, the second wave of cases this fall forced Sweden to change its tack. In the last month, it’s banned gatherings larger than eight, stopped late-night alcohol sales and moved some high schools to remote learning.
Looking ahead…EU regulators should release a decision on the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine Monday. If it’s approved, Swedish healthcare workers get dibs around Christmas.
