Sweden noted its maximum number of deaths in 150 years in the first half of 2020, according to the official statistics office of the country.
This year, from January to June, 51,405 deaths were confirmed and above 6,500 fatalities around 15 percent in 2019.
Sweden recorded its highest death tally in 150 years for the first half of 2020, according to the country’s official statistics office.
Unlike most countries, Sweden did not go into a lockdown when the pandemic spread across Europe in early spring. https://t.co/hrkZZGHQm0
— CNN International (@cnni) August 20, 2020
During the first half of the year, this is going to be the highest number of deaths since 1869, at the time when Sweden had to face famine, and around 55,431 people died.
Sweden even faced the least population surge since 2005, with a surplus number of 6,860 in 2020 that was lower than half of the previous year. In 2019, immigration numbers observed a drop of 34.7 percent, with the figures basically falling in the 2nd quarter from April to June.
Source: Web
Sweden didn’t impose lockdown
Unlike other countries, Sweden didn’t impose lockdown when Coronavirus breakout all across the European countries in early spring. Moreover, most of the schools, bars, salons, and restaurants were remained open and kept their working on. Having an easier and relaxed atmosphere, just 7.3 percent got the antibodies to battle that disease till late April, and less than 70 to 80 percent population required for immunity.
Johns Hopkins University gathered data and described that the COVID death toll of Sweden, by early June, was above 4,500 but currently is at 5,802. A high criticism cracked on Sweden government’s response because it didn’t focus on a significant number of deaths in care homes. Anders Tegnell, the chief epidemiologist of Sweden, accepted that the Public Health Agency of the country didn’t have any idea that there would be a big potential for the virus to spread in care homes, with several deaths.
He told Dagens Nyheter, a Swedish newspaper, that there are some things that Sweden could have done better, but in general, he thinks that Sweden has selected the right path. In July, Christiane Amanpour, in an interview with a media outlet, CNN, Tegnell, again protected Sweden’s method. He thinks that they still believe the approach has served them very well in several different aspects.
He continued that he knowns the death toll is very significant, and it is not very high if you compare it to other countries such as the Netherlands, UK, or Belgium.
He described that there is no evidence that protected people in long term care facilities in the country. Furthermore, he said that when the country’s authorities observed the difficulties in care homes, orders were circulated, and Coronavirus rapidly declined and were now almost at zero.
