Sweden last week recorded a lower average daily coronavirus case rate than its Nordic neighbours Denmark and Norway for the first time since the start of Europe’s major outbreak in March.
The country’s response to the pandemic was widely panned for not introducing strict lockdown measures, as seen throughout Scandinavia and Europe.
Sweden has seen an infection rate of 13 new cases per million people over last week. The equivalent figures in Denmark and Norway, were 21 and 15 respectively.
On 11th March, Denmark was the second European country - only after Italy - to send the nation into lockdown, closing borders, schools and non-essential shops before they had even recorded any deaths from the virus. Norway followed suit the day after.
But Sweden opted for public health messaging, social distancing and hygiene measures, in efforts to pursue a “herd immunity” strategy -- allowing the virus to slowly spread, allowing more people to have antibodies which may provide immunity.
Residents have always been free to go to bars, restaurants, gyms and cafes. Students under the age of sixteen continue to go to school everyday and people are asked not to gather in groups more than 50.
Speaking at a press conference this week, state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell said: "Sweden has gone from being one of the countries with the most infection in Europe, to one of those with the least infection in Europe.
Norway and Denmark surpassed Sweden in average confirmed daily cases per million last week. Source: Our World in Data
"Many other countries have seen a rather dramatic increase.
"What we see now is that the sustainable policy might be slower in getting results, but it will get results eventually.
"And then we also hope that the result will be more stable."
Denmark and Norway’s higher case-rate per million could be attributed to easing restrictions.
The rates in Denmark and Norway have never risen above 60, and have broadly remained below 20. At the peak of Sweden’s outbreak, it was seeing 108 new infections per million people.
Despite boasting a week of comparably good numbers, Sweden has recorded a much higher overall death-rate than its European counterparts.
Total confirmed COVID-19 deaths per million in Sweden, Denmark and Norway. Source: Our World in Data
Sweden has recorded 577.76 deaths per million, closer to the US’s rate of 569.60 than Norway’s 48.7 and Denmark’s 108.25 deaths per million.
Swedish health authorities maintain their strategy is long-term and will be easier to maintain as the pandemic continues.
