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Updated May 26th, 2020 at 19:14 IST

Sweden economy suffers despite soft restrictions

Sweden has defended its response to the COVID-19 global pandemic and pushed back strongly against the idea it prioritized the health of its economy over that of its citizens.

Sweden economy suffers despite soft restrictions
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Sweden has defended its response to the COVID-19 global pandemic and pushed back strongly against the idea it prioritized the health of its economy over that of its citizens.

The Scandinavian country 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.

Despite that, Sweden reported more than 76,000 layoffs since March.

Furthermore, with 70 percent of Swedish exports going to the EU, shutdowns in Germany, UK and other main markets are expected to his Swedish exports considerably.

"It is a myth that life goes on as normal in Sweden," Foreign Minister Ann Linde told foreign reporters in Stockholm.

"There is no full lockdown of Sweden, but many parts of the Swedish society have shut down. Many Swedes are severely affected."

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 over 4 per 100,000 in Norway, which imposed a strict lockdowns early on.

Additionally, Finance Minister Magdalena Andersson addressed the controversial issue of the EU recovery funds promoted by Germany and France.

"We also see a need for some kind of recovery fund and we can discuss the size. I think that the numbers that have (...) so far have been part of the discussion (...) are very high, so I think that needs to be discussed," she said.

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.

 

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Published May 26th, 2020 at 19:14 IST

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