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At the time of writing, the Johns Hopkins map shows that Sweden has more than 5 500 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and more than 300 recorded deaths.

That’s a pretty high number, so it seems strange that the country is still going about its business as if nothing as changed, while the rest of the world adopts extreme measures in efforts to contain the coronavirus.

I honestly can’t tell you which day of lockdown we’re on in South Africa, but Thursday was the longest week of the year.

Still, our government does deserve some praise, and is getting it, for the handling of the pandemic thus far.

In Sweden, shopping centres are still open, as are most of the schools and businesses. Citizens are free to work from home if they so choose, but many have opted to go into the office.

The Telegraph describes book launches, busy streets, and football matches. It’s like another world.

Apparently, unlike Belarus where the president is clearly insane, Sweden isn’t in denial. Instead, their experts believe that despite the high infection numbers, a lockdown will do more damage than good.

They believe that focusing on sustaining the economy is crucial at this point.

The face of Sweden’s response has been Anders Tegnell, the state epidemiologist, who has held daily press conferences. Politicians have taken a back seat. His team have published their own assessment of the virus and its likely trajectory, showing it peaking with about 250 needing intensive care in Stockholm.

The nation’s hospitals, he says, can cope. A 600-bed temporary ward is opening tomorrow, south of the city – and when it does, a quarter of all intensive care beds will be used. So for now, no reason to impose any more restrictions.

Physical distancing protocols are in effect. They’re even using the elbow-bump to greet each other.

Remember when that was a thing? 

Hospital data is published all the time, so Sweden’s “experiment” is being conducted in the open. Every time a patient is admitted, the data is updated on a Covid live website in striking detail. Average age: 60. Those with diabetes: 26 per cent. With cardiovascular or lung disease: 24 per cent. With at least one other underlying health condition: 77 per cent.

Sweden is also updating its statistics to say if someone died from Covid, or of something else – but with Covid. This might reduce the “death” figure by two thirds.

If Tegnell’s predictions turn out to be wrong, he says he’s ready to tighten things up.

Still, the risk seems rather obvious, and Sweden could be setting itself up for mass infection. Placing the economy ahead of the lives of its citizens is certainly a risky move.

Besides, Sweden is facing the global recession with the rest of us whether they like it or not.

For now, it’s perhaps the last country in Europe where things look somewhat normal.

[source:telegraph]