Posted on 07/22/2021 5:08:58 PM PDT by grundle
Sweden isn't in the news much these days. There's a reason for that.
More than 100,000 people flooded streets in France over the weekend and multiple COVID vaccination centers were vandalized as opposition grew to the government’s most recent pandemic strategy. In President Emmanuel Macron’s latest incarnation of lockdowns, government officials have decreed that unvaccinated individuals will no longer be allowed to enter cafes, restaurants, theaters, public transportation and more.
Needless to say, people were not happy.
France’s approach is unique, but it’s just one of many countries around the world imposing new restrictions as fears grow over a new variant of COVID-19. Australia’s recent restrictions have placed half the country under strict lockdown—even though a record 82,000 tests had identified just 111 new coronavirus cases—while restaurants in Portugal are struggling to survive amid newly imposed restrictions.
One country not making much news is Sweden.
Sweden, of course, was maligned in 2020 for foregoing a strict lockdown. The Guardian called its approach “a catastrophe” in the making, while CBS News said Sweden had become “an example of how not to handle COVID-19.”
Despite these criticisms, Sweden’s laissez-faire approach to the pandemic continues today. In contrast to its European neighbors, Sweden is welcoming tourists. Businesses and schools are open with almost no restrictions. And as far as masks are concerned, not only is there no mandate in place, Swedish health officials are not even recommending them.
What are the results of Sweden’s much-derided laissez-faire policy? Data show the 7-day rolling average for COVID deaths yesterday was zero (see below). As in nada. And it’s been at zero for about a week now.
While many nations are gearing up for more lockdowns, daily deaths in Sweden are still at 0.
This isn't what they said would happen. pic.twitter.com/udOcaacwx4 — Jon Miltimore (@miltimore79) July 22, 2021
Even a year ago, it was clear the hyperbolic claims about “the Swedish catastrophe” were false; just ask Elon Musk (also see: here, here, and here). But a year later the evidence is overwhelming that Sweden got the pandemic mostly right. Sweden’s overall mortality rate in 2020 was lower than most of Europe and its economy suffered far less. Meanwhile, today Sweden is freer and healthier than virtually any other country in Europe.
As much of the world remains gripped in fear and nations devise new restrictions to curtail basic freedoms, Sweden remains a vital and shining reminder that there is a better way.
It’s not statistical noise. It’s fact.
Two equal entities: Sweden and Norway-Denmark.
Equal in population, population density, ethnicity
Sweden has 3 times the number of deaths per million.
Sweden didn’t have lockdowns as the other did.
Both entities had the SAME economic downturn.
And btw, Denmark has also ended much of its lockdown.
The results so far shows that Denmark-Norway with its lockdowns kept the SAME economic hit as Sweden but with 3 times LESS deaths.
You say “how can anyone...”
the data shows that comparing Sweden to Norway-Denmark, that lockdowns reduced deaths to 1/3rd compared to if you don’t have the lockdown. And the economic impact is the same.
The only variable moved is “lockdown = Y/N” and if you go with “Y”, then your death rate is 1/3 rd that if you go with “N”
Death rates between them: 0.1484% vs. 0.0583%
With KNOWN errors in the source data put this into noise territory.
Besides, Norway and Denmark have similar populations - yet Denmark has 3x the death rate of Norway.
You’re arguing that lockdowns and cloth masks work - and you’ve no problem with oppressive and endless government policies. There’s plenty of PhD’s stating neither work and there’s no science to prove they do.
You’re arguing nonsense.
And that's a significant difference considering all other things are equal except the lockdowns.
With lockdowns you get 1/3rd the number of people dying as without lockdowns -- for the SAME economic impact.
Besides, Norway and Denmark have similar populations - yet Denmark has 3x the death rate of Norway. --> but we're not comparing D to N as those two are dissimilar due to population density. Only by combining them do you get a population density akin to Sweden's population density.
you're arguing nonsense
That’s not enough to determine the population distribution. The densities are averages.
You assume everyone reports the data the same. The is ZERO SCIENCE behind lockdowns. That is what should matter, not your interpretation of cherry picking flawed data comparing fractions of 1%. If you think what you’re doing is scientific then you don’t know what real science is.
The fact is that you’re fine with lockdowns without SCIENCE. You’re fine with endless violations of peoples’ rights. You obviously have no concerns about that.
So why are you here? It seems DU would be more your kind of place.
All we have seen is a playing out of Farr’s law.
“... A law formulated by Dr. William Farr when he made the observation that epidemic events rise and fall in a roughly symmetrical pattern. The time-evolution behavior could be captured by a single mathematical formula that could be approximated by a bell-shaped curve. ...”
If you lockdown, you depress the bell shaped curve but you extend the time line of the epidemic. (You will likely have multiple “humps” which we have seen.) The area under the curve number of cases (even deaths) doesn’t change. It continues until “herd immunity” is reached. Vaccines will increase the “herd immunity” condition but the shape of the curve doesn’t change.
This is all well known only Sweden acted like they understood it.
Sweden, Denmark and Norway report the data the same.
There is complete science behind the comparison of Swede and Norway Denmark.
In fact the comparison shows that lockdowns worked
No Covid, no lockdowns - the very epitome of White Privilege
Now you’re just making assertions without the ability to actually cite any scientific sources.
I’m done with this conversation. I believe you’re a troll.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.