Sweden has mostly defied critics in its coronavirus response. Schools, gyms, bars, and shops have remained open, and despite early concerns the lack of a full lockdown doesn't seem to have exacerbated the pandemic in the country beyond what was expected. Bloomberg notes the fatality rate as a share of the population is lower than most large, wealthy European countries, and Sweden's top epidemiologist Anders Tegnell — who is behind the more relaxed guidelines — said they're beginning to see a stabilized infection rate.
Tegnell set up the framework because he doesn't believe full-scale shutdowns make sense considering the virus isn't going to disappear anytime soon. He opted for a more "sustainable" approach that keeps economic life flowing while encouraging people to follow guidelines meant to slow the spread. Sweden's economy, therefore, is likely to contract a lot less than others. But economists at Goldman Sachs, Bloomberg reports, don't think it's wise for folks itching to end lockdowns elsewhere to point to Sweden as an example; the Scandinavian country may be particularly well-suited for its method.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Today's political cartoons - February 1, 2025Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - broken eggs, contagious lies, and more
-
5 humorously unhealthy cartoons about RFK Jr.Cartoons Artists take on medical innovation, disease spreading, and more
-
Brodet (fish stew) recipeThe Week Recommends This hearty dish is best accompanied by a bowl of polenta
-
Chinese AI chatbot's rise slams US tech stocksSpeed Read The sudden popularity of a new AI chatbot from Chinese startup DeepSeek has sent U.S. tech stocks tumbling
-
US port strike averted with tentative labor dealSpeed Read The strike could have shut down major ports from Texas to Maine
-
Biden expected to block Japanese bid for US SteelSpeed Read The president is blocking the $14 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel by Japan's Nippon Steel, citing national security concerns
-
Judges block $25B Kroger-Albertsons mergerSpeed Read The proposed merger between the supermarket giants was stalled when judges overseeing two separate cases blocked the deal
-
Rupert Murdoch loses 'Succession' court battleSpeed Read Murdoch wanted to give full control of his empire to son Lachlan, ensuring Fox News' right-wing editorial slant
-
Bitcoin surges above $100k in post-election rallySpeed Read Investors are betting that the incoming Trump administration will embrace crypto
-
Enron mystery: 'sick joke' or serious revival?Speed Read 23 years after its bankruptcy filing, the Texas energy firm has announced its resurrection
-
US charges Indian tycoon with bribery, fraudSpeed Read Indian billionaire Gautam Adani has been indicted by US prosecutors for his role in a $265 million scheme to secure solar energy deals
