Every country has at one point dared to believe it has figured out how to beat SARS-CoV-2, until reality sets in.
The U.K.’s misguided flirtation with a hands-off "herd immunity” strategy in March led quickly to a U-turn and tough restrictions. France and Spain promised they’d never repeat the draconian lockdowns they imposed early on — only to break their vow when test-and-trace systems failed to keep pace with summer vacation contagion. Israelis, who after a first lockdown were told to enjoy life and "have a beer,” are now facing a third one. Donald Trump recently claimed he’d ended the pandemic (he hadn’t).
Now, it’s Sweden’s turn. After a summer lull, the country famous for its voluntary "trust-based” approach to social distancing is getting battered by a winter wave of the coronavirus. Its 7-day average of daily cases and deaths per capita is currently outpacing the U.K., France and Spain, and isn’t far off the tally in the United States. While Sweden’s total deaths of 7,514 are on a per-capita basis lower than those countries, they far outstrip its neighbors at five times Denmark’s rate, nine times Finland’s and 10 times Norway’s.