– I just want to try to make it clear that this is complicated, it is not possible to say what was right or wrong. Afterwards it is always possible to say that if we had screamed “wolf”, it might have made a difference, but we do not know , says state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell to Swedish Radio Ekot.
The message was completely different then the Swedish The Swedish Public Health Agency last autumn announced that the infection situation was stable and under control.
– A fairly stable level in most places, but a slight cautious increase. Not at all as dramatic as you see in many other European countries. But it is slowly but surely going in the wrong direction, Tegnell said then.
Significant understatement
State epidemiologist Anders Tegnell Photo: Henrik Montgomery / AFP
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The significant understatement of the serious situation becomes mentioned by several Swedish media Tuesday. In addition, the impression was given that the Swedes followed the recommendations, which later turned out not to be the case.
According to the authority’s own figures, the spread of infection increased by 35 percent the week before September 24, in some parts of Sweden even more, writes Expressen.
– A disease like this, when it depends on the audience’s compliance, it is extremely important that the audience knows that it is a warning flag, says Tove Fall, professor of epidemiology at Uppsala University to Ekot. She believes that the Swedish authorities should have gone much further with their warnings to slow down the rapid spread of infection.
– A disturbing situation
Since Friday, 19,105 people have been diagnosed with corona infection in Sweden. The situation is expected to worsen throughout the country. State epidemiologist Anders Tegnell is concerned.
– We have a continued increase in infected people in Sweden. There is definitely a very high spread of infection and a disturbing situation, says Tegnell at a press conference. He says the infection is increasing in all age groups.
– Considering the large spread of infection, I will again emphasize the basics and how important it is to keep your distance, it is the basic concept to protect yourself and reduce the infection. It is important that we work from home as much as possible, says the state epidemiologist, who points out that much of the infection happens at home and in the workplace.
39 new deaths
Since Friday, 39 people have died in Sweden in connection with the pandemic, which so far has cost 13,660 people their lives in the country.
A total of 876,506 cases of infection have been detected, 19,105 of them since Friday, according to information The Swedish Public Health Agency.
All regions say they expect a deterioration both in the next few days and in the slightly longer term.
– It shows the seriousness of the situation and that the pandemic is now hitting the whole country very hard, says department head Thomas Lindén at the National Board of Health and Welfare.
Video (from April last year): WHO defends Sweden’s corona strategy: – Has put in place a strong health policy
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