Sweden’s PM defends coronavirus strategy, as herd immunity remains elusive

Sweden’s mortality rate per 100,000 is higher than the US, but despite more exposure to Covid-19, it is a long way off achieving widespread immunity

Academics have lambasted Sweden’s approach, calling for measures to save lives, such as using face masks and quarantines

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Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said he believes the country’s Covid-19 strategy is correct. But far greater numbers of Swedes have tested positive than elsewhere in the Nordic region, where lockdowns were imposed. Photo: AFP

Published: 4:00pm, 16 Jul 2020Updated: 4:04pm, 16 Jul 2020

Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said he is in no doubt his country’s highly controversial strategy for fighting Covid-19 remains appropriate.

Lofven, who has seen his popularity flag as Sweden’s decision not to impose a proper lockdown was followed by a spike in deaths, said he still thinks “the strategy is right, I’m completely convinced of that”, according to an interview with Aftonbladet.

The comments follow signs that, despite much higher rates of exposure to the coronavirus in Sweden than in many other places, immunity remains elusive. Meanwhile, Sweden’s mortality rate per 100,000 is higher than that in the US.

Swedes flock outdoors to enjoy warm summer weather in Stockholm. Photo: EPA-EFE

Far greater numbers of Swedes have tested positive for Covid-19 than elsewhere in the Nordic region. But Sweden remains a long way off achieving so-called herd immunity, according to the latest data.

“We know that large parts of the population are unprotected, as they haven’t been infected,” said Karin Tegmark Wisell, head of the Public Health Agency’s microbiology department. That means there remains a “large susceptibility in the population”.