COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden

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COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden
Map of confirmed cases in Sweden (per 100,000 residents)[1]
Map of confirmed cases in Sweden (absolute numbers)[1]
(left-to-right, from top) Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Mölndal Signs on the floor at the checkout in Coop, Åmål, to facilitate social distancing People queuing with 1.5-meter distance outside Systembolaget State epidemiologist Anders Tegnell An empty Drottninggatan, a usually busy pedestrian street in Stockholm
Disease	COVID-19
Virus strain	SARS-CoV-2
Location	Sweden
First outbreak	Wuhan, Hubei, China
Index case	Jönköping
Arrival date	24 January 2020 (4 years, 3 months, 2 weeks and 2 days)
Date	As of 22 March 2023
Confirmed cases	2,701,192[1]
Severe cases	10,098 ICU hospitalisations (total)[1]
Deaths	23,851[1][note 1]
Government website
Swedish Public Health Agency Covid-19 (in Swedish)

The COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden is a part of the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). As of 22 March 2023, there have been 2,701,192 confirmed cumulative cases and 23,851 deaths with confirmed COVID-19 in Sweden.^[1] Sweden ranks 57th in per capita deaths worldwide, and out of 47 European countries, Sweden places 30th. A 2022 estimate of excess mortality during the pandemic using IHME COVID model estimated 18,300 excess deaths during 2020–2021 ^[6] The Economist model value estimated 13,670 excess deaths between 16th 2020-Mar 6th 2022.^[7]

The virus was confirmed to have reached Sweden on 31 January 2020, although some evidence suggests that the virus could have arrived as early as December 2019. Community transmission was confirmed on 9 March in the Stockholm Metropolitan Area, and the first death was reported two days later. It had spread to all regions of Sweden by 13 March 2020. The authorities declared a "late pandemic phase" was beginning in June, but a surge in cases occurred in the winter of 2020. The Alpha variant, Delta variant and Omicron variant spread to Sweden in 2021.

As the outbreak reached Sweden, authorities responded with limited measures, in contrast with lockdowns and legal restrictions introduced in other countries. The Swedish public were expected to follow a series of non-voluntary recommendations^{[note 2]} from the Public Health Agency of Sweden (Folkhälsomyndigheten). These included working from home where possible, limiting travel within the country, social distancing, and for people above 70 and those with potential COVID-19 symptoms to self-isolate. Changes were also made to sick leave. Businesses and organizations were subject to distancing recommendations, regulations (mainly restaurants) and laws (banning public gatherings and events with more than 50 participants, as well as visits to nursing homes). Upper secondary schools and universities were closed until the end of the summer holidays.

From late 2020 amidst a surge in cases, new legislation was passed enacting international travel restrictions and again limiting participation in public events, banning nursing home visits and closing upper secondary schools. Primary schools remained open throughout the pandemic, and face masks were not generally recommended for the public or in healthcare settings. Vaccinations in Sweden began in December 2020. Spring 2021 saw a surge of the Alpha variant of the virus, and further tightening of restrictions and recommendations. In late 2021, vaccine passports and other measures were introduced. On 9 February 2022 almost all regulations and restrictions were abolished, and from 1 April 2022 COVID-19 was no longer classified as dangerous to the general public or society at large (although reporting requirements stayed in place).

The Swedish government's approach has attracted controversy. The impact on the country's healthcare system and its reported death toll have been far greater than in other Nordic countries, in part due to its unique strategy.^[8][9][10] An independent commission that evaluated the response found that Sweden managed to keep excess mortality lower than 31 other European countries,^[11] but also said that it failed to protect care home residents due to the overall spread of the virus in society^[12] and that the response overall was "slow" and "insufficient".^[13][14] A self organized group of 40 Swedish scientists and medical professionals^[15] had also called for stricter preventative measures throughout the pandemic.^[16]

The pandemic put the Swedish healthcare system under severe strain, with tens of thousands of operations being postponed, and only emergency and COVID-related care being available during a surge in the winter of 2020. Initially, Swedish hospitals and other facilities reported a shortage of personal protective equipment. Swedish hospitals were able to increase their intensive care capacity during the earlier stages of the pandemic, but Stockholm's health system still became seriously overwhelmed during the winter surge, with intensive care bed occupancy reaching 99% by 18 December 2020 and the city experiencing healthcare staff shortages.^[17] The pandemic and associated restrictions also impacted Sweden's economy, transportation sector, education and arts and entertainment.^[18]

Background

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