The above graphic is from Norm Farrell on the Twittmachine and he has been using it to pushback, hard, against people that spew shite about how strict shelter-in-place (i.e. lockdown) policies are pointless.
It now turns out that Sweden, which has no such policy in place, actually compares badly not just to its Scandinavian neighbours as shown by Norm above, but also to the entire world.
Very badly, indeed:
Sweden has now overtaken the UK, Italy and Belgium to have the highest coronavirus per capita death rate in the world, throwing its decision to avoid a strict lockdown into further doubt.
According to figures collated by the Our World in Data website, Sweden had 6.08 deaths per million inhabitants per day on a rolling seven-day average between May 13 and May 20.
This is the highest in the world, above the UK, Belgium and the US, which have 5.57, 4.28 and 4.11 respectively...
OK?
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6 comments:
A few other statistical comparisons between the neighbours:
New infections in Norway during the third week of May were 1/3 of those in the first week of May.
New infections in Sweden during the third week of May were higher than in the first week of May.
During the first three weeks of May, new infections in Sweden were 20x the number in Norway. Accounting for the difference in population, that ratio is 10.5 to 1.
The online journal Business Insider reports the Swedish coronavirus policy:
has sparked alarm among some experts who point to the country's relatively high death toll, the effects on vulnerable groups, and what they say is an approach that ignores much of the best research on COVID-19.
https://www.businessinsider.com/sweden-coronavirus-plan-is-a-cruel-mistake-skeptical-experts-say-2020-5
Thanks, as always, Norm.
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And yet, thus far, it appears to be a popular policy. The recently elected Social Democrats squeaked into power and now have seen their popularity skyrocket! https://www.politico.eu/europe-poll-of-polls/sweden/
Of course, as we know, this could change quickly.
Glen--
Economic driver?
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Not totally. I think it is trust in government and governmental trust in people. The politicians say "We Swedes are smart, intelligent people. We don't need to give precise direction because everyone knows how we have to behave. and we have the best healthcare system in the world so we can handle it." It appeals to swedes sense of themselves. In addition, they argue that the 'extreme' measures taken by other countries are not sustainable in the long run and this is likely to be a long fight.
BC's position is actually closer to Sweden's than we care to admit. There has been no 'full lockdown' here. Although of course we have prudently closed schools, bars and restaurants.
Ahhhh, interesting points.
Thanks Glen.
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