Comparison of policies for social distancing in Denmark and Sweden to combat covid-19
The emergence and spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has been one of the crucial global health crises of this century. As a result, the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020.
Study: Social distancing policies in the Coronavirus battle: A comparison between Denmark and Sweden. Image credit: Aleksander Mijatovic / Shutterstock.com
The effect of social distancing
Social distancing was adopted as the main strategy to reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2 worldwide. Various strategies for social distancing were implemented, the most common being a nationwide lockdown.
These measures also mitigated the spread of the influenza virus throughout the pandemic. Unfortunately, however, there is little evidence of the effectiveness of many social distance interventions.
The current study included Denmark’s and Sweden’s national response to the covid-19 pandemic. Denmark and Sweden are Scandinavian neighbors that share many economic, political and cultural characteristics. But their sensitivity to COVID-19 turned out to be strikingly different.
Denmark, for example, proved to have a faster response to the covid-19 pandemic. This nation implemented mandatory social distance measures and other restrictions such as restricting the collection of people, closing the national border and closing bars and restaurants.
In comparison, Sweden took voluntary measures that emphasized people’s willingness to maintain social distance measures. This country was criticized for its relaxed strategy which led to the widespread spread of the virus which inevitably increased hospitalization and mortality, especially compared to Denmark’s.
The current study, published in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, involved a comparative analysis of Denmark’s more common strategy and Sweden’s more unusual strategy that further helped to understand the factors that influence governments’ adoption of policies. In addition, the study aimed to identify, compare and analyze the various social distancing policies that Denmark and Sweden adopted in response to the covid-19 pandemic.
About the study
The current study involved the analysis of officially published documents describing both countries’ social distancing public policies from March 2020 to October 2020. The documents included executive orders, laws, general guidelines, news, as well as press releases.
The study involved comparative research, as it could provide general conclusions beyond individual cases. It also helps to provide differences and similarities based on the contextual state of affairs.
Policy measures are defined as measures that are implemented to implement a general policy. Policies can be categorized into three types, including sticks, sermons, and carrots.
Sticks, also known as regulations, are mandatory measures that require people to follow what is ordered. Sermons, also called information, are voluntary and non-binding recommendations that seek to influence people through the transmission of knowledge, persuasion, and arguments. Carrots, also known as economic measures, involve subsidies and subsidies to remove or provide material resources.
The current study also involved several steps of data collection and analysis. Initially, the government, parliaments and authorities involved in adopting social distancing policies were identified.
After this, policy measures were identified, retrieved and mapped on a table or matrix. The documents from each of the countries were updated and revised as new measures were continuously implemented. Finally, the documents from Denmark and Sweden were compared, analyzed and discussed by the researchers during Zoom meetings.
Comparison of the general types of policy measures
Three types of policy measures for social distancing were identified in both Denmark and Sweden. Denmark’s measures included executive orders, laws, recommendations and travel advice, while Sweden’s three measures included executive orders, laws and general guidelines and recommendations.
Denmark turned out to use a larger number of sticks compared to Sweden, where preaching turned out to be more common. Policies in both countries were updated several times, depending on the information on the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Notably, the sermons later turned out to turn into sticks in Sweden.
Compare policies for social distancing
In both Denmark and Sweden, the categories of social distance policy measures were very similar to the previously published taxonomy. However, Denmark’s restrictions were stricter compared with Sweden.
Denmark closed schools, workplaces, shopping centers, restaurants, cafés and areas where mass gatherings take place. Everyone who had covid-19 or was assumed to have covid-19 was suggested to isolate themselves. Travel restrictions were introduced and only those with legitimate purposes were allowed to travel.
But in Sweden there was no closure of schools and workplaces. Mass gatherings in excess of 500 people were canceled, which was later adjusted to 50 people. People over the age of 70 were advised against using public transport, especially during rush hour; however, no restrictions were imposed on the rest of the people. Thus, although most of the policy measures followed Rashid et al., There were few measures in both countries that do not fall under this classification.
Comparison of policy users
The most important political assumptions of Denmark were the Danish government and the parliament. Several ministries were also involved; But most of the recommendations and advice were adopted by the Danish health authority.
On the other hand, the government and the Riksdag in Sweden were found to be less active in adopting policies and measures. The Swedish Public Health Agency was responsible for the adoption of policy measures in Sweden.
Comparison of the time for adoption
Both Denmark and Sweden adopted political measures in March 2020. However, the political measures were stricter in Denmark during the early stages of the pandemic compared with Sweden. This enabled better control of covid-19 in Denmark compared with Sweden.
Comparison of policy implementers
The role of the implementers included the implementation of policy measures, monitoring and control of the measures and the provision of support to facilitate compliance with the measures.
The organizations responsible for implementing the decided policy measures involved both public and private authorities in both countries. However, many more policy measures were mandatory in Denmark compared with Sweden, which indicates greater monitoring and control in Denmark.
Comparison of policy target groups
The political target groups were fairly similar in both Denmark and Sweden. It involved the general population, as well as specific subgroups such as healthcare professionals, individuals belonging to the older age group, travelers, individuals belonging to certain risk groups and employees of public and private organizations.
Conclusion
As the implementation of policy measures was less strict in Sweden compared with Denmark, this nation experienced a higher frequency of hospitalizations and deaths during the study period.
The Swedish government was criticized for its lack of leadership during the pandemic. But during the second wave of the pandemic, a pandemic law developed. This team adopted many more sticks, which meant that Sweden’s strategy ultimately resembled Denmark’s.