# Sweden do-nothing approach good, US/UK/other countries' early do-nothing approach bad. Why?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweden-do-nothing-approach-good-us-uk-other-countries-early-do-nothing-approach-bad-why/850962
**Category:** The Quarantine Zone
**Tags:** covid-quarantine
**Created:** [April 3, 2020, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweden-do-nothing-approach-good-us-uk-other-countries-early-do-nothing-approach-bad-why/850962 "2020-04-03T14:44:16Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 38
### Author:  [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)
#### Post date: [December 14, 2020, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweden-do-nothing-approach-good-us-uk-other-countries-early-do-nothing-approach-bad-why/850962/742 "2020-12-14T13:02:27Z")
These are the most vague rules I’ve seen about Covid yet. It says to “keep your distance” and only socialize with “a few friends and relatives outside your household.”
How much distance? How many is a few?
ETA: Wow, it even says to wash your hands after going to the toilet. Did people not do that before? 😉
[https://www.krisinformation.se/en/hazards-and-risks/disasters-and-incidents/2020/official-information-on-the-new-coronavirus/national-regulations](https://www.krisinformation.se/en/hazards-and-risks/disasters-and-incidents/2020/official-information-on-the-new-coronavirus/national-regulations)
> [@](#):
>
> You have a personal responsibility to protect yourself and others from the spread of Covid-19. As of 14 December, you are obliged to:
>
> #### Stay at home if you have symptoms
>
> - If you have [symptoms of Covid-19](https://www.krisinformation.se/en/hazards-and-risks/disasters-and-incidents/2020/official-information-on-the-new-coronavirus/symtom-pa-covid-19/), you must stay at home and get tested.
> - Read more about what to do if you or someone in your household has symptoms or has become infected with [Covid-19 here](https://www.krisinformation.se/en/hazards-and-risks/disasters-and-incidents/2020/official-information-on-the-new-coronavirus/sa-minskar-vi-smittspridningen/).
>
> #### Limit new close contacts
>
> - Only socialise with people you normally meet. People you live with or just a few friends and relatives outside your household.
> - Always keep your distance from people you meet, and ideally meet up outdoors.
>
> #### Keep your distance from others and avoid crowded places
>
> - Always keep your distance from other people. This applies both indoors and outdoors.
> - Avoid places such as shops, shopping centres and public transport if they are crowded.
> - Shop alone and do not stay in shops for longer than necessary.
>
> #### Travel in the safest way possible to avoid infection
>
> - [Avoid public transport](https://www.krisinformation.se/en/hazards-and-risks/disasters-and-incidents/2020/official-information-on-the-new-coronavirus/domestic-travel-and-public-transport/) and other means of transport where it is not possible to book a seat.
> - Avoid making new contacts while travelling and at your destination.
> - Make sure you can isolate yourself at your destination or make your way home without infecting others if you develop Covid-19 symptoms.
>
> #### Work from home as often as you can
>
> - Reach agreement with your employer to work from home whenever possible.
> - If you must go into work, you should adjust your working hours so that you can avoid crowding in public transport and at the workplace.
>
> #### Maintain good hand hygiene
>
> - Wash your hands regularly and thoroughly with soap and water.
> - Always wash your hands before meals and after going to the toilet, and when you have been in public areas.
>
> #### Be careful when visiting people who are aged 70+ or belong to an at-risk group
>
> - Take extra care to follow all advice and recommendations. Here is more [information about at-risk groups and the elderly](https://www.krisinformation.se/en/hazards-and-risks/disasters-and-incidents/2020/official-information-on-the-new-coronavirus/riskgrupper/).
> - Visits to care homes must take place in a safe manner. Observe the home’s procedures for visits.
> - If you had Covid-19 during the spring, it is not certain whether you still have a lower risk of infection and of infecting others.
---
### Author:  [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)
#### Post date: [December 14, 2020, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweden-do-nothing-approach-good-us-uk-other-countries-early-do-nothing-approach-bad-why/850962/743 "2020-12-14T13:33:49Z")
Yep, still quite vague and not really serious about developing specific protocols. Keep dragging your feet, Sweden.
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### Author:  [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)
#### Post date: [December 14, 2020, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweden-do-nothing-approach-good-us-uk-other-countries-early-do-nothing-approach-bad-why/850962/744 "2020-12-14T14:46:06Z")
Njuta!
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### Author:  [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)
#### Post date: [December 16, 2020, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweden-do-nothing-approach-good-us-uk-other-countries-early-do-nothing-approach-bad-why/850962/745 "2020-12-16T10:07:42Z")
So, if you want a good summing up of how people are reacting towards COVID-19 in Sweden right now. This happened about half an hour ago:
The housing association that runs the buildings in my area replaced some ventilation equipment a month or so ago and they needed to check the ventilation in all the apartments. I was told my time and was told I had no option, it needed to be done.
So two guys arrived. No masks. No sanitiser usage. Nothing. They came into my apartment and just wandered around, touching things, putting equipment down (so sanitiser should have been used for that as well as their hands). These people are going into multiple homes every day to check this and are acting like this everywhere.
As I may have mentioned, I am in a risk group. I am very careful about what comes into my apartment. I sanitise EVERYTHING that comes in, Post, food … everything. And now that has all broken down because two idiots are pretending that COVID-19 is not a thing and spreading god knows what around everyone’s apartments.
So when people tell you that Swedes are following the rules, they aren’t. This is the sort of Sweden I have been experiencing this year. And yes, an angry email has been sent to the housing association.
---
### Author:  [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2020, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweden-do-nothing-approach-good-us-uk-other-countries-early-do-nothing-approach-bad-why/850962/746 "2020-12-17T17:03:26Z")
At last there is recognition of the policy failure in Sweden at a non-politcal level with a lot of social respect.
> **[Coronavirus: Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf says coronavirus approach 'has failed'](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-55347021)**
>
> Sweden has been criticised for its more relaxed approach to handling the pandemic.
Personally I think Tegnell should be sacked - not just allowed to resign, the policy has largely been at his behest based on his authority of medical specialism and he has simply failed at every step of the way and in the face of warnings and models that he could have taken into account.
…and now its everyone else’s fault
> [@](#):
>
> He said he thought Sweden had become better at protecting older people, and that no country had succeeded entirely in that area - even Germany was being hit hard right now
>
> Mr Tegnell said his agency (Sweden’s Public Health Agency) was not responsible for directing the elderly care system, and added all stakeholders needed to help to improve the situation to make sure the elderly did not get infected.
Pretty rubbish excuses - he had the information, supposedly he had the training and he had similar nations around him to look at.
I would be willing to bet that **DSeid** is not going to return to this thread and respond, having been comprehensively been shown to be making wrong assumptions and blindly quoting the line from an abjectly failed policy - I’d be interested to see how this poster now feels about their previous position in the light of developments over the last couple of weeks
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### Author:  [@FigNorton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FigNorton)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2020, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweden-do-nothing-approach-good-us-uk-other-countries-early-do-nothing-approach-bad-why/850962/747 "2020-12-17T17:11:23Z")
It’s a long thread. Which position should @DSeid be recanting?
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### Author:  [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2020, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweden-do-nothing-approach-good-us-uk-other-countries-early-do-nothing-approach-bad-why/850962/748 "2020-12-17T17:25:17Z")
Aside: Every time I see this thread in the list the title annoys me. It seems to assume that people point to other countries’ policies because we prefer those other countries, not because certain policies might serve as an example.
This seems to be part of the conservative mind-set. “Why are you always pointing to Canada’s health care? It must be because you love Canada more than America! Go live in Canada, you un-American!”
Are there really people who don’t fathom the idea that it’s not because I love Canada? It’s just that they might be doing something we can learn from. Let’s look into it and see.
That’s what seems to be behind the thread title: You people love Sweden so you must love Sweden’s coronavirus response, even though it’s just as bad or worse than ours!! No, no, that’s not it at all.
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### Author:  [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2020, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweden-do-nothing-approach-good-us-uk-other-countries-early-do-nothing-approach-bad-why/850962/749 "2020-12-17T17:28:23Z")
Pretty much every one he has held on the efficacy of the Swedish response to the pandemic during which he has supported infected herd immunity, no lock downs, keeping social gathering points such as bars and restaurants open, claiming Tegnell knows what he is doing, claiming that other nations have got it wrong - especially egregious when comparisons were made with neighbouring Scandi countries that have all fared far better - you could go on and on - like you say, it’s a long thread, if you pick up on a few of Dseids posts you will get the flavour of it very quickly
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### Author:  [@FigNorton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FigNorton)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2020, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweden-do-nothing-approach-good-us-uk-other-countries-early-do-nothing-approach-bad-why/850962/750 "2020-12-17T17:53:37Z")
> [@casdave](#):
>
> Pretty much every one he has held on the efficacy of the Swedish response to the pandemic during
Can you link one where he stated a position on the efficacy?
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### Author:  [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2020, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweden-do-nothing-approach-good-us-uk-other-countries-early-do-nothing-approach-bad-why/850962/751 "2020-12-17T20:41:29Z")
No need to: there were enough of us here who recall those discussions back in the spring. You can look it up using the search function if you wish.
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### Author:  [@FigNorton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FigNorton)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2020, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweden-do-nothing-approach-good-us-uk-other-countries-early-do-nothing-approach-bad-why/850962/752 "2020-12-17T20:55:34Z")
I already looked through the thread. He didn’t really say much controversial so I have no idea why he’s being “called out”. Whatever
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### Author:  [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2020, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweden-do-nothing-approach-good-us-uk-other-countries-early-do-nothing-approach-bad-why/850962/753 "2020-12-17T21:38:18Z")
So was that the King actually speaking his own mind, or the government writing the speech?
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### Author:  [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)
#### Post date: [December 18, 2020, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweden-do-nothing-approach-good-us-uk-other-countries-early-do-nothing-approach-bad-why/850962/754 "2020-12-18T01:02:08Z")
Having been mentioned by an @name this thread pooped into my box.
The post here reinforces why I left this forum other than off and on browsing for article links.
Too many posters who read other than anything which was even close to what was written, reading anything other than lockstep with what they believed as saying some extreme opposite view. Too few actually interested in intelligent discussion informed by critical analysis.
Sad to have the decision so reinforced.
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### Author:  [@Kimia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimia)
#### Post date: [December 18, 2020, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweden-do-nothing-approach-good-us-uk-other-countries-early-do-nothing-approach-bad-why/850962/755 "2020-12-18T04:07:33Z")
I’m just a lurker, but the forum has been diminished by your absence as it has drifted into an echo chamber.
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### Author:  [@raspberry\_hunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raspberry_hunter)
#### Post date: [December 18, 2020, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweden-do-nothing-approach-good-us-uk-other-countries-early-do-nothing-approach-bad-why/850962/756 "2020-12-18T04:57:58Z")
Aw @DSeid was wondering why I hadn’t seen you around here in a while. I miss your commentary.
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### Author:  [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)
#### Post date: [December 18, 2020, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweden-do-nothing-approach-good-us-uk-other-countries-early-do-nothing-approach-bad-why/850962/757 "2020-12-18T13:37:16Z")
Yeah, well, you were wrong.
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### Author:  [@SayTwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SayTwo)
#### Post date: [December 18, 2020, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweden-do-nothing-approach-good-us-uk-other-countries-early-do-nothing-approach-bad-why/850962/758 "2020-12-18T15:33:31Z")
You really think all of this is black-and-white, don’t you? And that you are absolutely not possibly mistaken or that it might even be uncertain. I can’t even begin to fathom what the thought processes must be like for someone to issue such a blanket statement, when what @DSeid has said all along, from the very beginning, is that you’ll have to give it a year before you can truly assess the respective approaches.
And I don’t know if he said or believes this, but I strongly suspect that in twenty years there will still be no consensus opinion of what the best approach would have been. For anyone to think they already have it, right now, is just…well, it’s a great example, I suppose, of exactly the kind of thought the doctor described above. And it’s not helping things. Not one bit.
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### Author:  [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)
#### Post date: [December 18, 2020, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweden-do-nothing-approach-good-us-uk-other-countries-early-do-nothing-approach-bad-why/850962/759 "2020-12-18T15:37:15Z")
Right, there will be no consensus. Science leads us even more confused and with even more doubts. Why even study it? Why even have public health recommendations in the first place? 🤥
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### Author:  [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)
#### Post date: [December 18, 2020, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweden-do-nothing-approach-good-us-uk-other-countries-early-do-nothing-approach-bad-why/850962/760 "2020-12-18T18:49:59Z")
In Sweden’s latest backtracking away from their failed policies, masks (which we were long told “do not work”) are now recommended for use on public transport. Finally. In December.
> **[Sweden rolls out series of new coronavirus measures, including face masks](https://www.thelocal.se/20201218/swedish-prime-minister-stefan-lofven-press-conference-coronavirus/)**
>
> Sweden will recommend face masks on public transport at certain times, said Prime Minister Stefan Löfven as he announced a series of new coronavirus measures on Friday afternoon.
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### Author:  [@FigNorton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FigNorton)
#### Post date: [December 18, 2020, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweden-do-nothing-approach-good-us-uk-other-countries-early-do-nothing-approach-bad-why/850962/761 "2020-12-18T18:54:47Z")
I thought that was about the level of mask mandate in all the Nordic countries? They all did it late, if at all, and limited scope.
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