COVID-19 AND SWEDEN

As of now, Sweden has reported 19,621 COVID-19 infections by way of testing, with 2,355 COVID-19-related deaths. The population of Sweden is estimated to be around 10,230,000. Sweden opted for a different response to COVID-19. They chose herd immunity versus mass quarantine and shutdowns. They believed that their hospitals could manage the surge without a quarantine. They also believed that hiding from COVID-19 would not reduce the number of deaths provided the hospitals were not overloaded. They thought that whether you quarantine or not, the same number of deaths would occur, just over a different period. Of course, we will never know what would have transpired in Canada because we opted for quarantine. 

Here is where Sweden is now. According to authorities, it is believed that over 20% of Sweden has had the virus and 2,355 citizens have sadly lost their lives as a result.  If these numbers are correct, this puts the mortality rate at 2,355/2,046,000 -> 0.1%. This is on the low end of the seasonal flu rate.  Sweden believes they will have herd immunity by the end of May. This could mean the end of COVID-19 for Sweden.

Brad J. Lamb