How Sweden is coping with the coronavirus epidemic

Abstract

When the whole world faced a never-before-seen coronavirus pandemic in March 2020, the governments of different countries behaved differently. Some chose the French path of severe restrictions, while others, trying to maintain the economic stability of the country, refrained from introducing a total lockdown. Sweden took a very special position among European countries — in the hope of developing collective immunity, the country refused to introduce strict restrictive measures, did not stop classes in schools or prohibit mass events (until the end of 2020, the Swedes were allowed to gather in groups of up to 50 people). Sweden's strategy to fight the coronavirus has captured the attention of the world, causing a lot of controversy. And if a year ago it was too early to draw any conclusions, today, having analyzed a number of indicators, it is already possible to ask the question whose strategy turned out more successful: the one of the countries that seriously limited their citizens in matters of movement and interpersonal communication, or has the «Swedish model» proved its worth after all?