Sweden's Coronavirus strategy will be judged in time.

THIS CRISIS WILL BE JUDGED IN YEARS NOT MONTHS

FLATTENING THE CURVE LEADS TO LONGER TIME OF PERIL

We have all come to understand that flattening the curve was rightly sold to many as the goal in managing this virus pandemic. The idea was if we allowed this virus to run its course we would have a spike in cases that would overwhelm our healthcare system and result in many not being properly cared for. Most people understood and accepted this as a good idea.

This strategy's main weapon was social distancing, but soon evolved into a complete shutdown of the economy. We are now attempting to get the country back to work and are recognizing the damage that has been done to the economy. While social distancing and the accompanied sanitation is working, do we really know how much positive effect the complete shutdown has contributed. Is social distancing producing the majority of the benefits and a complete shutdown only creating other possibly more severe problems.

Sweden is the only developed nation to take another strategy. It has not closed schools or business. It has quarantined elderly care homes. It has stopped sports events and large groups meetings. Swedes have practiced social distancing. The idea was to protect the vulnerable while allowing the rest of the nation to carry on business as usual. Their economy has suffered, as many have taken precautions on their own, but their economy is intact, just reduced.

As of today their mortality rate is 291 per million. the USA has a mortality rate of 226. The major European counties have a mortality rate of  over 400. Over 50% of their deaths have occurred in the elderly care homes and the immigrant community. This is a similar statistic as the rest of the world.

As time goes on we will see what the long term results will be.Their cases seem to be on a strong downhill curve, much like the other countries with harsher restrictions. The difference will be if in the second wave, they may have a much lesser effect than those who have attempted to protect all their citizens, leaving them more vulnerable in the future. The other difference may be that their economy will recover quicker with less long term damage.

Sweden is in the process of testing to reveal how many of their citizens have had the virus without knowing it. Indications are, that the results may not be that much different than other countries who enacted draconian policies that added little added benefits to social distancing.. We will have to see when much of this pandemic has run its course. It will be a study that will provide valuable insights for the future.