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Misleading media coverage of Sweden’s response to Covid-19; Sweden does not have a herd immunity strategy. Decision not to “lockdown” is only “controversial” because media have framed it as such
BMJ ^ | 08/03/2020 | Rachel Irwin

Posted on 08/03/2020 12:11:47 PM PDT by SeekAndFind

Sweden does not have a herd immunity strategy, and it is irresponsible for The BMJ to perpetuate this myth.1 Similarly, the decision not to “lockdown” is only “controversial” because the media have framed it as such. It is time for the word lockdown to be replaced with precise, non-sensational language that describes the measures taken.

Most of the media coverage has focused on country level data, which is misleading. Stockholm county has 91 deaths per 100 000, whereas Skåne county, including Malmö, has about 15; Blekinge has the lowest, with 4.4 deaths per 100 000. I am still waiting for an article on what we can learn from Blekinge’s approach to covid-19.

Sweden does not have a single approach to covid-19; its response is a mixture of policies at national, regional, and local levels and in sectors outside of the health system such as public transportation. Although a strategy might be set nationally, the responsibility for implementation can be regional or local. In Sweden social care, including care homes for the elderly, is run by municipalities, whereas healthcare is run by the county. Municipalities are also responsible for public health education campaigns and for enforcing physical distancing in public and commercial spaces. In practice, the balance of responsibilities is blurry and can differ depending on the county and municipality. Much of the “public” sector in Sweden is privatised, which raises further questions of responsibility (and blame).

Compulsory physical distancing measures exacerbate social and health inequalities to a greater extent than voluntary ones. With some exceptions, people in Sweden have continued to have access to regular and specialist care, and children have had access to education. The importance of a semi-normally functioning society cannot be overstated.

Sweden, and the Swedish approach, is much more multilayered than portrayed in the media, and this hinders serious policy evaluation.

Footnotes

This article is made freely available for use in accordance with BMJ's website terms and conditions for the duration of the covid-19 pandemic or until otherwise determined by BMJ. You may use, download and print the article for any lawful, non-commercial purpose (including text and data mining) provided that all copyright notices and trade marks are retained.https://bmj.com/coronavirus/usage

References

View Abstract


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: coronavirus; lockdown; media; sweden

1 posted on 08/03/2020 12:11:47 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

SOURCE:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/sweden-covid-19-death-rate-lower-than-spain-italy-and-uk-despite-never-having-lockdown/ar-BB17vdej

As of Sunday, the latest death rate in Sweden (deaths per 100,000 people) was reported to be 56.40. The figure is lower than that reported in the U.K. (69.60), Spain (60.88) and Italy (58.16), according to the latest report Sunday by Johns Hopkins University.

The U.K. currently has the world’s fourth highest death toll, while Spain and Italy (which have the sixth highest and eighth highest death tolls, respectively) were formerly Europe’s two countries worst hit by the outbreak.

Sweden’s latest case-fatality ratio (portion of deaths compared to total cases) was reported to be 7.1 percent. The figure is more than half the percentage reported in the U.K. (15.1 percent), half that of Italy and Belgium (each reporting 14.2 percent) and nearly half that of France (13.4 percent), according to Johns Hopkins University.


2 posted on 08/03/2020 12:12:54 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

ALSO, Sweden’s seven-day rolling average of daily new deaths has been mostly declining since as far back as April 16, when the average was at 99. The average dropped to two on August 2, according to Worldometer.


3 posted on 08/03/2020 12:13:28 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind
Decision not to “lockdown” is only “controversial” because media have framed it as such BMJ ^ | 08/03/2020 | Rachel Irwin

In the vast majority of cases, the word “controversial” simply means “something we and our liberal pals don't agree with.”

4 posted on 08/03/2020 12:19:16 PM PDT by Steely Tom ([Seth Rich] == [the Democrats' John Dean])
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To: SeekAndFind

They are down to almost zero deaths.

https://g.co/kgs/hFNCFB


5 posted on 08/03/2020 12:39:46 PM PDT by READINABLUESTATE
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To: SeekAndFind

Sweden’s death rate is much higher than the MOST COMPARABLE countries, the Scandinavian countries.

Norway’s death rate is 4.7 per 100k.

Swedish policy led to a direct 5210 extra deaths in a country of 10 million(about the same as Los Angeles County) because it chose to do nothing/very little, unlike Norway.

Its economy did the worst of the Scandinavian countries shrinking 5% this year and its unemployment is the worst of the Scandinavian countries at 9%.

Sweden is literally the least obese country in the West. All else being equal it should do a lot better than Italy and Spain. And Sweden should do WAY better than the UK. In the West only the USA/Canada are fatter than the UK.

Sweden with such low levels of obesity,diabetes,and heart disease should have among the lowest Covid-19 fatality rates in the world. Instead it is up there with the worst.


6 posted on 08/03/2020 12:46:53 PM PDT by Reaganez
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To: SeekAndFind

everything about the media “hinders serious evaluation” ...really, of all issues....


7 posted on 08/03/2020 12:47:27 PM PDT by ConservativeDude
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To: Reaganez

Ok, what happens to the other Scandinavian countries when they reopen? Or are they going to stay permanently locked down and isolated from the rest of the world including Sweden?


8 posted on 08/03/2020 12:51:06 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

bkmk


9 posted on 08/03/2020 1:01:11 PM PDT by Sergio (An object at rest cannot be stopped! - The Evil Midnight Bomber What Bombs at Midnight)
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To: SeekAndFind

No worse than Sweden because Sweden doesn’t have herd immunity. They had lots of death but ironically not a lot of cases.

Besides, a vaccine is coming.

Norway and Denmark are not full of retarded anti-vaxxers so they should be just fine.At least relative to Sweden.


10 posted on 08/03/2020 1:16:42 PM PDT by Reaganez
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To: Reaganez
Its economy did the worst of the Scandinavian countries shrinking 5% this year and its unemployment is the worst of the Scandinavian countries at 9%.

Sweden's GDP increased 0.4% annualized in Q1. I believe Sweden was the only European country that recorded a positive GDP in Q1. I don't think Sweden's Q2 numbers are out yet.

Sweden with such low levels of obesity,diabetes,and heart disease should have among the lowest Covid-19 fatality rates in the world. Instead it is up there with the worst.

This article is about herd immunity. It's infection rates over time and not fatality rates that are more precise indicators when trying to prove or disprove herd immunity.

11 posted on 08/03/2020 1:17:10 PM PDT by FreeReign
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To: Reaganez

Thank you for declaring your status as a “retarded vaxxer.”


12 posted on 08/03/2020 1:44:53 PM PDT by logi_cal869 (-cynicus the "concern troll" a/o 10/03/2018 /!i!! &@$%&*(@ -)
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To: SeekAndFind

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All explained in this short, powerful video. PLEASE SHARE!!!

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13 posted on 08/03/2020 3:15:54 PM PDT by Dick Bachert (THE DEEP STATE HATES YOU!)
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