The country that advocated "herd immunity" policy and refused to close cafes and restaurants now faces 9% of the disease mortality • PM: "The policy we tried is not good enough"

• Improvised hospital in Sweden // Photo: AFP

While states across Europe are gradually removing the rigid measures of closure and isolation imposed on their citizens in efforts to cope with the Corona epidemic and its spread, Sweden - which was one of the only European countries to abstain from restricting population and betting on "herd vaccination" is taking a turnaround.

With about 9% mortality from the deadly virus infected (over 900 dead from around 11,000 infected), Sweden's Socialist Prime Minister Stefan Lofban announced that his government was considering imposing restrictions on the population after the "flexible policy" adopted so far Herself as "not good enough." Lofban's government is severely criticized for refusing to close public entertainment venues such as restaurants, cafes and bars, leaving the decision to stay home or go to work by citizens.

Another reason for criticizing the government is the great shortage of medicines and medical equipment, including the respirator. Lofban, who has been prime minister since 2014, pushed back the accusations against his government and placed responsibility on the previous governments. He said the Swedish civil defense system had been neglected in the last 30 years since the end of the Cold War.

Some of Sweden's neighbors - Denmark and Norway - are considering reopening kindergartens and schools in the coming days. Spain, one of the European countries most affected by the Corona epidemic, yesterday allowed the resumption of activities in non-essential industrial sectors - including manufacturing, construction and various services.

Europe is fighting the virus

In Spain, there was again a decline in the daily mortality level of 517 people (17,489 since the epidemic began). Police stationed at train, metro and bus stations provided passengers with protective masks. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez made it clear over the weekend that Spain is still far from a victory over the plague or from when the population is being channeled back to normal life. In Italy, there was an increase in the daily mortality rate from the plague (566) yesterday after several days of consistent decline. The death toll from the Corona in Italy crossed the 20,000 mark last night.

Russia is also tightening its approach to the Corona epidemic. After his decision to extend National Leave from work until the end of April, President Vladimir Putin called on the Russian army to prepare to help deal with the plague, as it did in other countries. In a video chat with government officials, Putin stated that the next few weeks would be crucial in the fight against the Corona. "That is to say, that our actions, including preventive measures in the field and in health care organizations, should be at an optimal level, with special attention to high-risk areas like Moscow," Putin added. In Russia, there has been an increase in deaths (about 150) and infections (over 18,000) in recent days.

In the United Kingdom, where 717 more Corona patients (11,329 have died in hospitals since the epidemic) have died in the past day, Acting Prime Minister Dominique Raab has announced too soon to talk about easing the restrictions imposed on residents of the kingdom. Since the Corona epidemic is now at its peak in the UK. "If we remove the closure now, the virus will spread and kill more people," Raab warned. UK government experts estimate that the number of daily plague victims in the kingdom will increase in the coming days.

In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel will meet with provincial prime ministers tomorrow to discuss the implementation of a gradual plan to resume economic, commercial and business operations in the country. Merkel's public pressure to begin removing the restrictions on the population, but the chancellor has made it clear that scientists believe it will be decisive.

President Macron announced yesterday the extension of the general closure to 11.5 and said that although the epidemic is beginning to stabilize "The campaign is still underway. Macron announced that the French could return to work on this date, but the entertainment and cultural sites will remain closed. In a speech to the nation, he acknowledged that France was not ready for the Corona crisis. But as soon as the problems were identified, they acted like a war to produce solutions to the shortcomings, and despite the successes of recent weeks, the French president calls on his country's citizens to continue their efforts to honor the procedures and emergency laws.