Sweden’s Mister Corona is not switching to the WHO after all
health
Sweden’s Mister Corona is not moving to Switzerland to the WHO after all
Anders Tegnell resigns in Sweden – and goes to the WHO in Geneva. That was the plan. Now the controversial Mister Corona is not switching to the international organization after all.
Contrary to what was originally thought, Sweden’s internationally renowned ex-state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell did not switch to the World Health Organization (WHO). The Swedish health authority Folkhälsomyndigheten announced on Wednesday that the 66-year-old was selected at the beginning of March to participate as an expert in international WHO-related assignments. Unfortunately, no agreement could be reached for the order in question. Tegnell will now deal with international matters at the health authority.
The doctor of infectious diseases had long been the public face of the Swedish special way in the fight against the corona virus. Compared to most other European countries, Sweden relied on much looser measures and more appeals to the common sense of the citizens. There have never been lockdowns in the Scandinavian EU country.
Folkhälsomyndigheten announced at the beginning of March that Tegnell would in future work on behalf of Sweden with a focus on fair access to corona vaccines for the WHO in Geneva. He therefore gave up his posts as state epidemiologist and head of department at the authority in mid-March. According to Swedish media reports, the health authority was a bit hasty in making the announcement. “Of course I’m disappointed,” Tegnell said to the newspaper “Expressen”. He is now looking forward to his new post in the government. (dpa/rwa)