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Has Sweden’s coronavirus policy achieved lower death rates than that of its neighbors?

Wednesday, May 6, 2020
By William Boger
NO

Sweden has gained attention for its approach to the COVID-19 pandemic, implementing less severe restrictions on movements and gatherings than many other countries. Instead it has relied on residents to follow guidelines and self-regulate.

As of May 7, according to Worldometers, Sweden recorded 24,000 cases, with 291 deaths per million people. Comparable figures for its Nordic neighbors, which have taken more stringent approaches, were 40 per million in Norway, 45 per million in Finland and 87 per million in Denmark.

Such comparisons will vary over time with policy responses and rates of spread, until either more effective treatments for COVID-19 emerge or a vaccine is widely available.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
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