Sweden has adopted a largely "business-as-usual" approach to the coronavirus pandemic.
Sweden Plots Controversial Course As Life Goes On Largely Unchanged Amid Pandemic
- By Amos Chapple
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Swedes enjoy the spring sunshine at an outdoor restaurant in Stockholm on March 26.
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Locals sip beer inside the Half Way Inn, a pub in central Stockholm on March 23.
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Soldiers of Sweden's Royal Guard patrol near the palace in Stockholm on March 25.
These photos -- remarkable for their normality as the rest of Europe endures varying degrees of lockdown and mass business closures -- illustrate Sweden’s unusual response to the coronavirus pandemic.
These photos -- remarkable for their normality as the rest of Europe endures varying degrees of lockdown and mass business closures -- illustrate Sweden’s unusual response to the coronavirus pandemic.
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People shop in Stockholm on March 24.
Most of Sweden's shops, schools, bars, and restaurants remain open, though the country has taken some measures in response to the pandemic outbreak that include closing universities and high schools. On March 27, Swedish authorities banned gatherings of more than 50 people. In contrast, Germany has banned groups larger than two, Czech police can fine people not wearing face masks, and Armenian police patrols are using loudspeakers to warn citizens to stay indoors.
Most of Sweden's shops, schools, bars, and restaurants remain open, though the country has taken some measures in response to the pandemic outbreak that include closing universities and high schools. On March 27, Swedish authorities banned gatherings of more than 50 people. In contrast, Germany has banned groups larger than two, Czech police can fine people not wearing face masks, and Armenian police patrols are using loudspeakers to warn citizens to stay indoors.
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A woman shoots a selfie under a cherry tree in Stockholm on March 22.
The strategy in Sweden is to protect the elderly and those who belong to known risk groups. The government recommends those who are over 70 or have high-risk medical conditions to stay home. For the rest of the population, it recommends working from home if you can, practicing social distancing, and staying home when you feel unwell.
The strategy in Sweden is to protect the elderly and those who belong to known risk groups. The government recommends those who are over 70 or have high-risk medical conditions to stay home. For the rest of the population, it recommends working from home if you can, practicing social distancing, and staying home when you feel unwell.
![A sign outside a Stockholm bar on March 27 Sweden’s state epidemiologist recently defended the country's decision to keep schools for small children open, saying closing them would be “a very complex measure…[and] you lose workforce in health care [through medical staff child-care issues] to an extent which is totally unacceptable to Sweden.” He added that school closures would mean children “would mingle with a lot of other people, so it increases the risk of spreading the infection to others, including the elderly." ](https://gdb.rferl.org/ABB327CD-BA5B-4EF1-B01F-E8F0F8136F80_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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A sign outside a Stockholm bar on March 27
Sweden’s state epidemiologist recently defended the country's decision to keep schools for small children open, saying closing them would be “a very complex measure…[and] you lose workforce in health care [through medical staff child-care issues] to an extent which is totally unacceptable to Sweden.” He added that school closures would mean children “would mingle with a lot of other people, so it increases the risk of spreading the infection to others, including the elderly."
Sweden’s state epidemiologist recently defended the country's decision to keep schools for small children open, saying closing them would be “a very complex measure…[and] you lose workforce in health care [through medical staff child-care issues] to an extent which is totally unacceptable to Sweden.” He added that school closures would mean children “would mingle with a lot of other people, so it increases the risk of spreading the infection to others, including the elderly."
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A bar in Stockholm photographed on March 25.
Many in Sweden have harshly criticized the authorities' approach to the virus. Fredrik Elgh, a virology professor at Umea University, told Sweden’s state broadcaster: "I'm deeply concerned, I'd rather Stockholm was quarantined. We are almost the only country in the world not doing everything we can to curb the infection. This is bloody serious."
Many in Sweden have harshly criticized the authorities' approach to the virus. Fredrik Elgh, a virology professor at Umea University, told Sweden’s state broadcaster: "I'm deeply concerned, I'd rather Stockholm was quarantined. We are almost the only country in the world not doing everything we can to curb the infection. This is bloody serious."
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A busy restaurant in Stockholm on March 25
Other countries, including Britain, initially favored a similar approach to Sweden before sharply changing course when death rates from the pandemic spiked.
Other countries, including Britain, initially favored a similar approach to Sweden before sharply changing course when death rates from the pandemic spiked.
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A field hospital in Gothenburg set up to provide extra beds for coronavirus patients
From a population of 10 million, Sweden has reported 3,046 cases of COVID-19 and 92 deaths. By comparison, neighboring Denmark, which has closed schools and many businesses, and banned gatherings of more than 10 people, has 2,010 coronavirus cases and 52 deaths in a population of 5.7 million as of March 27.
From a population of 10 million, Sweden has reported 3,046 cases of COVID-19 and 92 deaths. By comparison, neighboring Denmark, which has closed schools and many businesses, and banned gatherings of more than 10 people, has 2,010 coronavirus cases and 52 deaths in a population of 5.7 million as of March 27.
