Sweden and the Pandemic

The Briefing Room

Sweden decided not to lockdown like other countries - was it the right decision?

David Aaronovitch explores the Swedish experience of the pandemic and reveals that, for a country which didn't officially lockdown, it still introduced significant changes to everyday life, from school closures to social distancing and the cancellation of theatre shows and concerts.

He looks at how the country's economy has fared compared to similar countries, and investigates whether claims it is in a better position to generate 'herd immunity' are accurate.

Contributors:

Maddy Savage, journalist in Stockholm

Dr Emma Frans, researcher in medical epidemiology at Karolinska Institute, Stockholm

Richard Milne, Nordic and Baltic Correspondent at The Financial Times

Marcus Buggert, assistant professor at the Centre for Infectious Medicine at the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm,

Martin McKee, Professor of European Public Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

Team: Richard Fenton-Smith, Bob Howard, Kirsteen Knight Studio Manager: Rod Farquhar Editor: Jasper Corbett