Sweden is taking a different route from the Corona crisis than many countries. There are both - praise and criticism. Now there are new developments in the country.
- Sweden also took action in the Corona * crisis.
- However, the restrictions are more relaxed than in many other countries.
- Now a doctor reports details.
- Here you will find the basic facts about the corona virus *. You can also see current case numbers in Germany as a map *. The most important thing about the topic is also available on our brand new Facebook page Corona News.
Update of May 21, 2020: Sweden's handling of the corona crisis has received a lot of attention for weeks - and is sometimes controversial. As Sweden's Foreign Minister Ann Linde told a news agency, Sweden is not pursuing the goal of herd immunity. The Swedish Secretary of State also refers to statements by US President Donald Trump , who has repeatedly stressed that Sweden chose this strategy. "That is simply wrong, we do not have such a strategy," quotes deutschlandfunk.dethe politician. If Trump says something, it will be a big deal worldwide, Linde continues. "I invested a lot of time to prove otherwise," said Linde.
But Linde should also have explained this path to European politician colleagues. Sweden has no other goal than other European governments.
Sweden's way in the Corona crisis: Highest death rate in decades - Every fifth person in Stockholm has antibodies
Update of May 20, 2020: Sweden is taking a special route to contain the corona virus. This is currently being widely discussed. While the World Health Organization recently praised the Swedish model ( see update from May 2 ), a CDU MP came up with harsh criticism ( see update from May 14 ). Now there are new developments in the Scandinavian country
As the Swedish statistics agency said, 10,458 people died in the country last month - more than in all other months of the past decades: "We have to go back to December 1993 to have more deaths in just one month," quotes the editorial network Germany Thomas Johansson from the statistical office.
However, the number of deaths refers not only to people who died as a result of Covid-19 , but the total number of deaths. According to Johns Hopkins University , Northern Europeans have 31,523 corona cases and 3,831 deaths. About 10.2 million people live in Sweden.
At the same time there is positive news from Stockholm. More than one in five residents of the Swedish capital are said to have already produced antibodies against the coronavirus, according to an ongoing study by the state health authority. Stockholm is the worst Swedish city affected by the pandemic .
The extent to which people are immune to Covid-19 * after the formation of antibodies has yet to be definitively researched.
Coronavirus Sweden: Does the special route fail? CDU deputy posts terrifying numbers
Update May 14, 2020: Sweden's " special path " in the corona crisis in Europe is often highlighted. Public and economic life there has been far less restricted in recent months. This highlighting of the Swedish way was now enough for the Thuringian CDU member of the Bundestag Mark Hauptmann .
He posted a statistics overview on his Facebook page. "Even in direct comparison to the so highly praised, because Sweden appears to appear completely without restrictions, we are much better off in Germany," he writes. Sweden has an unemployment rate that is almost twice as high , expects a more severe slump in gross domestic product in 2020 and has more than three times as many deaths per 100,000 inhabitants.
The latest statistics in particular are worrying: in Sweden at this time (May 7th) 28.8 people per 100,000 inhabitants died, compared to 8.77 in Germany. In the meantime, this difference has even increased, Sweden is now around 33.8 dead per 100,000 inhabitants, Germany is 9.4 (as of May 14, 2020). Regarding the classification of economic data, however, it should be mentioned that unemployment rates are calculated differently and the percentages of GDP developments are currently only based on estimates.
Coronavirus: Sweden sticks to a special route - doctor reports dramatic details from intensive care unit
Update of May 13, 2020: Sweden's special way in the corona crisis surprised at the beginning of the pandemic. While most countries imposed a lockdown, catering , shops and schools remained open in the Scandinavian country . Rather, it should appeal to the population's sense of responsibility to independently limit contact with other people. But it quickly became apparent that Sweden's death toll was higher than in many other parts of the world.
A doctor now reports to the star from an intensive care unit from a hospital in Stockholm. Dr. Lars Falk is therefore one of the leading medical professionals in the country. His ward treats patients who suffer from a lack of oxygen and who, for example, need artificial respiration. As Falk further reports, the patients are dependent on the devices. You would probably die within 24 hours with ordinary treatment .
The doctor clarifies that around 26,000 people in Sweden have been officially tested positive for the corona virus. According to Stern , there are around 523 intensive care beds . For this reason, the station is headed by Dr. Falk from Stockholm always fully occupied.
The doctor further explains that for this reason, careful consideration should be given to who will be allocated a place on the ward. "Places are getting scarcer," explains Dr. Falk. “But of course we have to sort out other patients . These are really difficult decisions that are not easy to make, ”the star quotes the doctor.
A woman is spat on by a suspected corona infected person at a London train station - now she is dead.
Sweden's Corona special route: Virologist surprises with explanation
Update from May 8, 2020, 3:27 pm: Sweden is taking a special route in the corona crisis . Unlike most countries, the Scandinavian state did not impose a lockdown . Elementary schools, restaurants and shops remained open. The restrictions were much milder than anywhere else.
However, the death toll compared to the total population is higher than in, for example, neighboring countries. Sweden's leading virologist Anders Tegnell said that the Swedish measures could easily be maintained for a long time.
“There is no scientific evidence that lockdowns actually have an effect. The difference to Germany is that Germany is currently destroying its economy, ”said epidemiologist Johan Giesecke , who also advises the government. Tengell sees it exactly like this: “We always have to look at the economy. We cannot destroy them. "
Corona: Doubts about Sweden's special path - bankruptcies are increasing sharply
However, new figures make Sweden's decision doubtful. The independent state economic institute has now revised its forecasts for the economy downwards. "We are seeing the biggest slump since the 1950s," said economist Eric Spector, according to Sveriges Television . The gross domestic product is expected to decrease by seven percent. Before that, three percent had been assumed.
The company insolvencies in rising Sweden to. Of course, the global economic situation also affects the country. There are no exports and therefore an important source of income.
According to tradingeconomics , there were 1,833 bankruptcies in 2019 in the first three months of the year. In 2020 the number increased to 2,075. The figures in January and February were still similar to 2019. In March, however, the bankruptcies are 795, 25 percent higher than in 2019.
In proportion more deaths and nevertheless serious economic damage. If the special path of the Swedes might still have been a mistake?
WHO suddenly praises Corona special route: "May possibly learn from Sweden"
Update from May 2nd, 9:37 pm: The way in Sweden in the fight against the corona pandemic seems to be going well . At least the national health authority reports that the number of corona infections has decreased in the past few days.
In addition, Swedish state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell confirmed on Swedish public television that the number of reproductions had been below 1.0 for several days.
"This means that the pandemic will gradually subside," Tegnell told SVT . The health authority in Sweden reports that the R value has also been relatively stable at around 1.0 since April 10 . In the meantime, this should be 0.85.
First announcement from May 1st: Stockholm - The Swedish handling of the corona virus has often caused a sensation in the past months and sometimes irritations. The Scandinavians are on a course in the crisis that differs significantly from that in most other countries such as Germany *. There has already been clear criticism of this . It is therefore all the more surprising that a leading WHO employee praised the Swedish concept .
Sweden's special way in the corona crisis: Much criticism after enormous death rate
At a time when strict exit restrictions apply in most countries in Europe * and the world * , pictures from Stockholm caused astonishment in the Corona crisis: on many photos, people seemed to be crowded in open restaurants with the best spring weather. The background: Sweden has taken corona measures, but these are far less drastic than is the case in Germany.
Responsible for this is above all state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell , who suggested a different course from the start than Germany's leading virologist Christian Drosten *. However, he also had to take a lot of criticism for his more liberal course in the crisis in his own country and internationally. Above all, the comparatively high death rate in Sweden was seen by many as a sign that Tegnell's course was doomed to failure. With a total of 20302 infected, the WHO counts 2462 deaths in Sweden (as of April 30). Downgraded to one million inhabitants, the value is three times as high as in Germany.
According to current forecasts, a total of up to 8,000 to 20,000 deaths could occur in Sweden, as reported by focus.de . Tegnell also called these estimates unlikely. For comparison: In Germany, which has almost eight times as many inhabitants, these numbers would mean 24,000 to 160,000 deaths.
With regard to the death rate, Tegnell recently admitted that this number is far higher than was hoped, as the paper further reports. Nevertheless, he continued to defend the course. Especially since, in his opinion, strict rules could not be maintained for long. Such a long-term solution was necessary until a vaccine * was found and produced.
Praise for Sweden's Corona course from a leading WHO employee
After the often voiced criticism of Sweden's path, it is surprising that the Scandinavians are receiving praise from the WHO leadership . According to focus.de, Mike Ryan , the executive director of the WHO program for health emergencies, said : "We may be able to learn from our colleagues in Sweden." That is, how it is possible "to return to a society without lockdown *".
Ryan also reiterated that it was a misunderstanding that Sweden had not taken any action. The difference is that in Sweden they have not relied on bans , but on the insight and willingness of the citizens to regulate themselves and to keep their distance.
In Ryan's opinion, this is a “model for the future” because: If you want to end the measures and closings taken, society has to adapt its “physical and social conditions” to the virus . And this lifestyle change may then have to be maintained over a long period of time. Ryan sees Sweden as a pioneer for this.
Meanwhile, there are explosive revelations about the actions of the Chinese government. According to a secret service document, she wanted to cover up the Corona outbreak.
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* merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network.
List of rubric lists: © dpa / Wolfgang Kumm
