Swedish covid response failed: First (light) lockdown

[Supersonic 49,376]

Sweden has cut its limit on attendance at public gatherings to eight people, as its light-touch approach to the coronavirus pandemic continues to be tested by a surge in new infections and hospitalisations.

Public gatherings have until now had to adhere to limits of between 50 and 300 people depending on the type of event. The prime minister, Stefan Löfven, said the stricter limit would come into force from 24 November.

“This is the new norm for the entire society,” Löfven said, adding that Swedes were not observing coronavirus recommendations as well they had in the spring. “Don’t go to gyms, don’t go to libraries, don’t host dinners. Cancel,” he said.

“It’s going to get worse,” Löfven said. “Do your duty and take responsibility for stopping the spread of the virus. In the spring we saw large compliance. It was enough to have recommendations to get most people to keep their distance and cancel their plans. Now there is less compliance.”

Last week the government announced that bars and restaurants would not be allowed to serve alcohol after 10pm from 20 November until the end of February.

The interior minister, Mikael Damberg, said the strict new limit on gatherings would be in place for an initial four weeks but could be extended to run over the Christmas and New Year holidays.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/16/sweden-limits-public-gatherings-to-eight-people-amid-covid-surge

[VanishIntoMe 3,973]

About time we got some real restrictions in this damn country.

[Morphine Prince 109,645]

They are the biggest failure out of the Northern European countries. Their neighbors handled it infinitely better. 

[Juniper 1,062]

How is it a lockdown? Not even a light one. Everything is open. 

[Supersonic 49,376]

15 minutes ago, Juniper said:

How is it a lockdown? Not even a light one. Everything is open. 

Public gatherings of more than 8 people are prohibited, which is a de facto lockdown for the culture & entertainment industry. (The venues are allowed to be open and frequented, but they're not allowed to host events because of the restrictions).

[Economy 52,837]

2 hours ago, Supersonic said:

Public gatherings of more than 8 people are prohibited, which is a de facto lockdown for the culture & entertainment industry. (The venues are allowed to be open and frequented, but they're not allowed to host events because of the restrictions).

Meh that sounds more like gathering restrictions. If most businesses are open I wouldn't call that a "lockdown". I agree with @Juniper

 

My part of Canada was in lockdown in April and part of May and as of this month we entered lockdown again cuz of surging cases

 

From late May to mid November we were not in lockdown. But we still had "restrictions" such as those gatherings or limits of people at gyms and restaurants. Those restrictions never went away but it doesn't mean we were in lockdown the entire time

 

I wouldn't call some restrictions a lockdown. Lockdown implies mass closures

[Bonkers 30,860]

3 hours ago, MonSwiftAnton said:

About time we got some real restrictions in this damn country.

There are too many ABBA's, Ace of Bases, Roxette's, Eric Saade's and Molly Sandens there to risk it!!! 

We must be very careful with our Swedish friends because pop music just couldn't be the same without it.

How dare the government risk the future of pop music!! 

[Rat Boy 43,832]

Very disappointing how they let their people down for most of the year. They have a duty of care to protect their citizens and they failed to do that.