Coronavirus Information: What Happened Today?
The view from Sweden
Throughout the pandemic, Sweden has taken its own path.
During the first months of the pandemic, when other countries locked up, Sweden surprised many epidemiologists by keeping companies open and most children in classrooms. The results were mixed: It went worse than other Scandinavian countries, but better than many of its European neighbors with stricter rules.
But as cases escalated in the fall and winter, the country gave up and imposed restrictions, including ordering certain companies to close and fine people for breaking virus rules. Last week, however, the country lifted almost all of its pandemic restrictions.
To get an idea of how the pandemic has played out recently in Sweden, we spoke to Christina Anderson, who reports from the Nordic states for The Times.
How has Sweden’s recent experience of pandemics differed from the United States or other European countries?
Sweden has a completely different mask culture compared to the USA and other European countries. It was reluctant to recommend masks for a long time. Even after the public health authority urged people to start using masks in public transport, people did not always follow the recommendation. It was unlikely that you shouted that you did not have a mask.
There is also no major debate about vaccination here. Vaccination is completely voluntary in Sweden. Almost 80 percent of the population aged 16 and older are fully vaccinated. The most vulnerable population is about 95 percent.
Was the Swedish approach to the pandemic a success or a failure? What do Swedes think?
According to a recent survey, 51 percent of Swedes between 18 and 79 respondents had great confidence in the country’s pandemic strategy. It has steadily increased during the year. People seem quite happy that they have not been forced to shut down.
But when it comes to calling it a success or a failure? There is still a feeling that the jury is out. I spoke to Anders Tegnell, the state epidemiologist, and he does not think we are capable of tapping the chest with pride.
If you look at the mortality statistics, compared to Norway, Finland and Denmark, Sweden did much worse. The pandemic highlighted weaknesses in care in nursing homes. Compared with many other European countries, however, Sweden has done it in the same way or better, and not much worse.
What are some interesting findings to come from Sweden’s pandemic approach?
Two come from schools and restaurants.
Sweden kept most schools open. The country conducted a comparative study with Finland, which closed most schools, on infection rates in schools. The study found that closing schools did not have a significant impact on the frequency of infection.
One thing that weighed heavily on public officials when they decided to close schools was the high proportion of new residents as a result of the refugee crisis in 2015. They did not want these children to lose out on being adapted to the country and the language.
According to Tegnell, restaurants were not a huge place of infection in Sweden. They were open, but the public health authority limited the number of people per party and closed bar. But you always saw people in restaurants. You always saw life around town.
Instead, Tegnell says that the biggest transfer vectors were the home and the workplace. These sites accounted for between 20 and 30 percent of infections. Ten percent were public places such as subways.
What was the mood like when Sweden lifted its restrictions?
People expected it to resemble “cow release” (“cow release”) when the cows released back to the fields in the spring after a winter indoors. In parts of the country it was so. During the weekend, it was reported that intoxicated cells in Gothenburg were over capacity. And a columnist resembled the vomit spots on the streets of Stockholm with a scene in “Alien”.
Most people have socialized to some degree all the time. But now the bar has reopened in restaurants, bars and nightclubs. Theaters and opera have also opened.
It has been really difficult for the elderly population. They have not been able to meet in the same relatively unlimited way. Now it feels like life is going back to normal, even for them.
State of Vaccine Mandates in the United States
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- Vaccine rules. On August 23, the FDA granted full approval of Pfizer-BioNTech’s coronavirus vaccine for individuals 16 and older, paving the way for mandates in both the public and private sectors. Such mandates are legally permissible and have been maintained in court proceedings.
- College and university. More than 400 colleges and universities require students to be vaccinated against Covid-19. Almost everyone is in states that voted for President Biden.
- Schools. California became the first state to issue a vaccine mandate to all educators and announced plans to add the Covid-19 vaccine as a requirement to go to school, which could begin as early as next fall. Los Angeles already has a vaccine mandate for general school students 12 and older starting Nov. 21 New York City’s mandate for teachers and staff, which took effect Oct. 4 after delays due to legal challenges, appears to have led to thousands of last-minute shots.
- Hospitals and health centers. Many hospitals and large health systems require employees to be vaccinated. Mandates for medical staff in California and the state of New York seem to have forced thousands of people to receive shots.
- Indoor activities. New York City requires workers and customers to show evidence of at least one dose of Covid-19 for indoor food, gym, entertainment and performances. As of November 4, Los Angeles will require most people to provide proof of full vaccination to enter a range of indoor businesses, including restaurants, gyms, museums, cinemas and salons, in one of the country’s strictest vaccine regulations.
- At the federal level. September 9, President Biden announced a vaccine mandate for the vast majority of federal workers. This mandate applies to employees of executive branch, including the White House and all federal agencies and members of the armed services.
- I tthe private sector. Mr Biden has instructed that all companies with more than 100 employees require vaccination or weekly testing, which helps to pursue a new company vaccination policy. Some companies, such as United Airlines and Tyson Foods, had mandates in place before Biden was announced.
Expands fast tests at home
Quick home tests can be hard to find in the US Just ask our colleague David Leonhardt, who wrote about his quest to do some in today’s issue of The Morning Newsletter.
But the White House today announced a $ 1 billion investment in rapid coronavirus tests at home that it says will help quadruple their availability later this year.
Tens of millions more will hit the market in the coming weeks. In December, 200 million rapid tests will be available to Americans each month, an White House official said.
Efforts to expand test access also received a significant boost this week, when the FDA approved Acon Laboratories’ home test. Just like a handful of tests already available on the US market, Acon’s test is performed to detect antigens on a nostril and gives results within 15 minutes.
These tests cost as little as $ 10, and although they are not as sensitive as PCR tests, they are very accurate in detecting infection in the first week after the onset of symptoms, when the viral load is likely to be highest.
The more we follow
What are you doing
Covid has given me a new way to date. Now I just have to ask their opinions about Covid to get mad much faster. When someone tells me they had Covid in one sentence and then says they think it’s a scam the next, I can quickly say, “Yeah, your maniac is definitely on your porch.” It’s common in the south to put your maniac on the porch, but Covid has taken it to a new level. I now feel that my daughter is trying to find an outfit to wear. I quickly throw dates over my shoulder and say, “No, that’s not what I want today.” I never thought that so far into a pandemic I would still deal with so much faith in crazy conspiracy theories.
– Lora Leathco, Columbia, SC
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