Sweden’s leading epidemiologist has attributed in part the highest number of coronavirus deaths in the country to mild flu outbreaks in recent winters.
“When many other people die of flu in the winter, less die in heat waves the following summer. In this case, it was the Covid-19 that caused many deaths,” Anders Tegnell, Sweden’s leading epidemiologist, told Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter. . this week.
“What has been noticed now is that countries that have had a low mortality from influenza in the last two or 3 years, such as Sweden, have [also] a very high excess mortality in Covid-19,” he said, according to a translation provided in The Times newspaper.
“Those who had a high influenza mortality rate, such as Norway, beyond two winters, have low Covid mortality. The same trend has been observed in several countries. That would probably not be the full explanation of the component yet. “
Great attention was paid to the coronavirus pandemic in Sweden due to its resolve not to absolutely block its public life and its economy Most European countries have done so, while coronavirus cases are higher in the spring.
Instead, the Tegnell Public Health Agency mainly voluntary measures, such as smart hygiene, social distance rules and running away from home if possible.
However, bars, restaurants, schools and peak shops have remained open and the mask is not widely used. Sweden, however, has banned mass gatherings and visits to retirement homes for the elderly; the latter restriction is expected to rise soon despite a higher number of Covid-19 deaths noticed in such institutions.
Tegnell’s policy of not blocking was noted through Tegnell as a means of obtaining a sure degree of herd immunity among the population, he told CNBC in April.
Collective immunity in a population, achieved through vaccination, is achieved when around 60% of citizens are found to be immune. However, without a vaccine available, scientists looked closely at whether exposure to Covid-19 and its cure led to long-term immunity.
The search for collective immunity has proven to be debatable in Sweden, as allowing the virus to spread (although there are some measures) has put the most vulnerable teams, such as the elderly and others with existing physical disorders, in a greater threat of serious illness and death. In July, WHO officials warned that patients recovering from the virus could possibly re-contract it, and said some studies warned that immunity would possibly be minimized after a few months.
Sweden has reported a higher number of infections and deaths than its neighbours, with about 10 million inhabitants, approximately twice the population of its neighbours Denmark, Finland and Norway. To date, Sweden has recorded nearly 90,000 cases and 5,870 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University, Denmark, on the other hand, recorded fewer than 25,000 cases and 641 deaths.
Unlike the major European economies of France, Spain and the United Kingdom, which are experiencing an additional accumulation of coronavirus cases in what is described as a momentary wave of pandemic, it was first noted that Sweden was avoiding a resurgence. Sports groups have emerged in recent weeks and the increase in cases in the capital, Stockholm, means that the city can now move towards more restrictions.
“Stockholm has noticed a marked increase recently, in all age groups,” Tegnell said at a press conference, Dagens Nyheter reported Tuesday. “We are discussing with Stockholm whether we want a new opportunity to take action for transmission. “
Possible measures that could be taken were discussed, however, Stockholm’s director of fitness and medicine, Bjorn Eriksson, said an upward trend in Stockholm’s dominance could lead to a “very serious scenario again. “
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