Sweden defends strategy as death toll mounts

Sweden has defended its response to the COVID-19 global pandemic and rejected "a week-by-week measurement of mortality" that shows the Scandinavian country as having one of the highest mortality rates in world.

Between 12-19 May, Sweden reported 6.25 COVID-19 deaths per million per day on a seven-day rolling average, according to Ourworldindata.org.

That was the highest in Europe, followed by Britain's average of 5.75 deaths per million per day.

Foreign Minister Ann Linde stressed that "transmission is slowing down, the treatment of COVID-19 patients in intensive care is decreasing significantly and the rising death toll curve has been flattened."

"This is not a sprint, it's a marathon," she added.

Sweden took a relatively soft approach to fighting the coronavirus, one that attracted international attention.

Large gatherings were banned but restaurants and schools for younger children have stayed open. The government has urged social distancing, and Swedes have largely complied.

The country has paid a heavy price, with more than 4,000 fatalities from COVID-19.

That's almost 40 deaths per 100,000 population, compared with about 10 per 100,000 in neighboring Denmark and just over 4 per 100,000 in Norway, which imposed stricter lockdowns early on.

The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death.

===========================================================

Clients are reminded:

(i) to check the terms of their licence agreements for use of content outside news programming and that further advice and assistance can be obtained from the AP Archive on: Tel +44 (0) 20 7482 7482 Email: info@aparchive.com

(ii) they should check with the applicable collecting society in their Territory regarding the clearance of any sound recording or performance included within the AP Television News service

(iii) they have editorial responsibility for the use of all and any content included within the AP Television News service and for libel, privacy, compliance and third party rights applicable to their Territory.