The main epidemiologist of Sweden Anders Tegnell for the first time publicly acknowledged that his proposed strategy for dealing with the coronavirus was incorrect

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Unlike many other countries, Sweden did not quarantine them, but only urged citizens to follow the recommendations, based on their consciousness

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The main epidemiologist of Sweden Anders Tegnell for the first time publicly acknowledged that his proposed strategy for dealing with the coronavirus, expressed in the rejection of self-isolation, was not ideal. “If we are faced with this disease, knowing what we know now, then I guess we’d have to take an intermediate position between the current strategy for Sweden and that made the rest of the world,” said Tegnell in an interview with Sveriges Radio (quoted by RIA “Novosti”).

He added, a large number of premature deaths from COVID-19 could have been prevented and noted that the cost to introduce more measures against the spread of coronavirus. However, Tegnell still not sure what measures were required, and believes that to limit all at once, as did other countries, its wrong, now it is difficult to know what actions were most effective.

“Maybe we’ll find out now, when the restrictions begin to come off one at a time, and maybe in part we understand what we could have done without closing the society”, – concluded Tegnell.

At a press conference on Wednesday, chief epidemiologist of the country said that his words were misinterpreted as a recognition of the fallibility of that strategy. Tegnell stressed that still considers it to be good, but there is no limit to perfection, writes the tabloid Aftonbladet. Answering the question, does this mean that even with that knowledge, he would hold the same position, Tegnell answered in the affirmative, adding that depending on the situation, the strategy is adjusted.

Unlike many other countries, Sweden did not quarantine them, but only urged citizens to follow the recommendations, based on their consciousness: to maintain social distance and to travel. Chief epidemiologist of the country believed that in this way the population will develop high immunity to the coronavirus, which will enable Sweden to avoid a second wave of the epidemic.

However, due to this strategy, Sweden is now one of the highest rates of mortality from COVID-19 in the world – 43,24 fatalities per 100 thousand population, “Vedomosti”, citing data from the Johns Hopkins University. This is much higher than in the neighbouring Denmark (9,94) and Norway (4,44). The total number of confirmed cases in Sweden, too, much more than in these countries ‒ 38 589 cases on June 3, died 4468 people.

To avoid the recession in Sweden the rejection of self-isolation didn’t help either. The country has faced a massive economic crisis and rising unemployment. Bloomberg predicted the state’s worst economic downturn since the Second world war.

The Swedish government under pressure from the opposition has already announced the establishment of a Commission to investigate the validity of the chosen strategy of combating coronavirus.