Page 29 - bon-dia-aruba-20200921

A29
world news Dialuna 21 September 2020

Sweden spared surge of virus cases but many questions remain

(AP) — A train pulls into ride public transportation
the Odenplan subway station without masks, there are also
in central Stockholm, where far fewer people commuting
morning commuters without than before.
masks get off or board before
settling in to read their smart- Unlike most European coun-
phones. Whether on trains tries that have mandated
or trams, in supermarkets wearing face masks in pub-
or shopping malls — places lic spaces, Sweden does not
where face masks are com- recommend their broad use,
monly worn in much of the and people largely follow that
world — Swedes go about recommendation.
their lives without them. Health officials say face
masks used outside health
When most of Europe locked care facilities by untrained
down their populations early personnel can provide a false
in the pandemic by closing sense of safety that could see
schools, restaurants, gyms sick people leave home and
and even borders, Swedes ignore social distancing. In-
kept enjoying many free- stead, they believe simple
doms. but nonnegotiable guidelines
The relatively low-key strat- Overall, Sweden has 88,237 since March. Swedes enjoyed amid lock- provide clear rules that can
egy captured the world's at- reported infections and 5,864 “We need to be very careful downs elsewhere, there were stay in place for long periods
tention, but at the same time fatalities from the virus, or and find the first sign that not as many as people have of time: staying home when
it coincided with a per capita 57.5 deaths per 100,000 in- something is going on so that assumed. Gatherings were showing symptoms of CO-
death rate that was much habitants since the begin- we can do as much as possible capped at 50, and congregat- VID-19, maintaining good
higher than in other Nordic ning of the crisis. The way to prevent it from escalating,” ing at bars was banned. hand hygiene and keeping
countries. Sweden's strategy was viewed he told The Associated Press. Most of the changes involved social distancing.
Now, as infection numbers outside the country seems to Localized outbreaks are ex- voluntary actions by citizens,
surge again in much of Eu- depend largely on what stage pected, but rather than fight rather than rules imposed by In a country the size of Cali-
rope, the country of 10 mil- of the pandemic the observer them with nationwide rules, the government. fornia with only a quarter of
lion people has some of the was experiencing at the time. officials plan to use target- that state's population of 41
lowest numbers of new coro- Initially, many abroad were ed actions based on testing, This trust given to the popu- million, and with low levels
navirus cases -- and only 14 incredulous at images of contact-tracing and isolating lation to shoulder personal of transmission, most Swedes
virus patients in intensive Swedes dining with friends patients rapidly. responsibility in the pan- believe wearing masks makes
care. in restaurants or sipping “It’s very important that we demic puts Sweden at odds little sense.
cocktails on the Stockholm have quick and local response with most other countries Carol Rosengard, 61, who
Whether Sweden’s strategy is waterfront. Some were envi- to hit down the virus without that used coercive measures runs a center for disabled
succeeding, however, is still ous that Swedish businesses making restrictions for the such as fines to force com- youth, has seen people wear
very uncertain. were not forced to close. whole country,” Health Min- pliance. This is often attrib- masks improperly or take
Its health authorities, and in ister Lena Hallengren said uted to a Swedish model them off to smoke a cigarette
particular chief epidemiolo- Then came shock as the virus last week. of governance, where large or drink water.
gist Dr. Anders Tegnell, keep ripped through the country's public authorities comprised “That's not how they should
repeating a familiar warning: nursing homes and hospices. From the beginning, health of experts develop and rec- be handled,” Rosengard said,
It’s too early to tell, and all By mid-April, more than 100 officials argued that Sweden ommend measures that the explaining her support for
countries are in a different deaths were reported each was pursuing a sustainable smaller ministries are expect- not imposing face mask rules
phase of the pandemic. day in Sweden, while mor- approach toward the virus ed to follow. In other words, on the population. That view
That has not stopped a World tality rates were falling else- that the population could the people trust the experts is echoed by Hallengren, the
Health Organization Europe where in Europe. Today, as adopt — for years, if neces- and scientists to develop rea- health minister, who doesn’t
official from saying the con- fears of a second wave grow sary. “This is a marathon, sonable policies, and the gov- totally dismiss the effective-
tinent could learn broader across Europe, it's fashion- not a sprint,” became a slo- ernment trusts the people to ness of masks and sees their
lessons from Sweden that able to praise Sweden, with gan repeated by ministers follow the guidelines. usefulness in cases of severe
could help the virus battle reporters from France, the at every opportunity, given Swedes were asked to work local outbreaks. At the same
elsewhere. U.K. and elsewhere traveling that neither a vaccine nor a from home when possible time, she rejects blanket rules
“We must recognize that to Stockholm to ask about its cure yet exist. While the rest and maintain a social dis- for the entire country.
Sweden, at the moment, has success. But a Swedish gov- of the world watched with tance, and most willingly "People will not wear masks
avoided the increase that has ernment commission inves- envy at the freedoms that complied. While people now for years,” she said.
been seen in some of the oth- tigating the handling of the
er countries in western Eu- pandemic will, undoubtedly,
rope,” WHO Europe’s senior have hard questions to an-
emergency officer, Catherine swer: Did authorities wait
Smallwood, said Thursday. too long to limit access to
“I think there are lessons for nursing homes, where about
that. We will be very keen on half of the deaths occurred?
working and hearing more Were they too slow to pro-
from the Swedish approach.” vide personal protective
equipment to staff in those
According to the European homes when shortcomings
Center for Disease Con- in the elderly care sector had
trol, Sweden has reported long been known? Why did it
30.3 new COVID-19 cases take so long to set up wide-
per 100,000 inhabitants in scale testing?
the last 14 days, compared Tegnell also refuses to rule
with 292.2 in Spain, 172.1 out a second wave of coro-
in France, 61.8 in the U.K. navirus infections in Swe-
and 69.2 in Denmark, all of den. A particular concern
which imposed strict lock- is the return of students to
downs early in the pandemic. high schools for the first time