Lisa Bjurwald

Sweden’s Covid Christmas farce

Shops in Stockholm (photo: Getty)

Sweden has become an international phenomenon for its relaxed response to the Covid-19 pandemic – which some critics describe as careless. Its no-lockdown strategy has been based almost solely on personal responsibility. This point has been made to Swedes by solemn-faced politicians, most recently before Christmas. It’s up to every Swedish citizen to maintain social distancing and, if possible, work from home. Restaurants, bars, cafés, shops, and even malls have stayed open throughout the crisis. Face masks have not been recommended nor encouraged (although in a surprising change of heart from the authorities, masks will be made mandatory from January 7 in certain situations, such as on public transport during peak hours).

Prime Minister Stefan Löfven has used stern, atypically Swedish language to underline the importance of individual responsibility. ‘Too many people have been careless about following the recommendations,’ he thundered in November. A few weeks later he declared the situation  ‘serious,’ Löfven and urged people to avoid crowded areas and unnecessary shopping trips. ‘I hope and believe that everyone in Sweden understands this.’ 

Only two days later, it would transpire, the Prime Minister visited the largest shopping mall in the capital’s city centre to pick up his watch from a repair shop. Apparently, he’d also been to a state-run off license, chosen a Christmas gift for his wife, and bought a spare part for his electric shaver.

Sweden is a high-tech country where even our eldest citizens are on social media: why didn’t Löfven just purchase the goods online? Why would the Prime Minister risk picking up a potentially deadly virus and undermining his government’s own advice to run a few errands? And going to the same shopping centres he advised others to avoid? 

But in hindsight, Stefan Löfven’s unnecessary visit to the shops seems almost silly to make a fuss over.

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