2nd wave of Covid-19: Sweden persists in its strategy, and even...

The Swedes are not afraid! … at least in appearance. No matter how dangerous the second wave of coronavirus is, which is destabilizing the rest of Europe, the Nordic authorities fully assume the very particular strategy they have been following since the pandemic landed on their shores. And even, to the general surprise of other countries, they relax the few restrictions put in place, including for the elderly, the most at risk.

A strategy undermined by a very high mortality rate

Yet Sweden had become disillusioned during the first wave when they ended up with one of the highest death rates on the European continent. And like elsewhere, the contamination is on the rise again: the number of cases per day has continued to increase since mid-September, 1,614 new infections were reported yesterday ; this is the most important result since June.

It does not matter, the inhabitants continue their daily routine, they do not wear still no mask in the streets as inside public places and shops. It must be said that Swedish scientists agree that the mask is ineffective and no recommendation is given on this subject. As for the bars and restaurants, it’s simple, they never closed. AT Stockholm, the capital, as in all other cities, establishments are regularly crowded, as are buses and trams.

People over 70 free … at their risk

Yesterday the government suddenly gave back their freedom to people over 70, necessarily taking a great risk. While they were asked to stay at home since the start of the rise of the Covid-19 disease at the beginning of the year, now they can go out as they want.

Even more astonishing, the ban on visiting residents of retirement homes, in particular nursing homes, which had been maintained to protect them, was lifted at the same time as the pandemic was once again attacking. Finally, the executive has upped the number of people who can attend cultural events and sporting events, 300 more than before.

Containment is “not to be continued”, according to the Health Agency

Johan Carlson, the director of the Swedish Public Health Agency, has only one argument:

The latter, and his colleagues, bluntly assert that confinements, curfews and other restrictions “are not a way forward”.

Nevertheless, the return of students at the beginning of the autumn clearly accelerated the second wave of contaminations. This week, authorities were forced to take stronger action in an attempt to extinguish, or at least reduce, the large epidemic focus that is now spreading in the university town ofUppsala, located about 70 kilometers from Stockholm.