Continuation Sweden's liberal pandemic strategy questioned as Stockholm death toll mounts (Part 2)

[dann]

Continuation thread, original thread: http://www.internationalskeptics.com...d.php?t=343214

Posted By:Darat

Talmannens besked: Alla i Riksdagen ska ha munskydd (Omni.se, Feb. 24, 2021)
The Speaker of the House declares: Everybody in the Swedish parliament should wear a face mask
But in Sweden, it is still only a recommendation, of course.

[Vixen]

Originally Posted by dann

Doesn't Finland have contact tracing?! I.e. there must be reason to assume that some of people are getting tested because they are the contacts of people who tested positive.

That's true. I have the widget on my phone myself.

[Tero]

There really should not be all that many cases in Finland, as it's poorly connected. Not like Sweden and Denmark with an actual bridge between them. You don't use Finland as a through travel place. The only thing that travels on from Finland to Russia is goods shipped to Finnish ports and loaded on to trucks.

The virus variety arriving in Finland is therefore brought mainly by Finnish travelers. At this point. Tourism is low from abroad.

[dann]

Originally Posted by Tero

There really should not be all that many cases in Finland, as it's poorly connected. Not like Sweden and Denmark with an actual bridge between them. You don't use Finland as a through travel place. The only thing that travels on from Finland to Russia is goods shipped to Finnish ports and loaded on to trucks.

The virus variety arriving in Finland is therefore brought mainly by Finnish travelers. At this point. Tourism is low from abroad.

Once the virus arrives in a country, the international connections play a minor role. The question is how the country deals with community spread. And don't forget that many of the tourists in Finland are Swedes! At this point, yes, tourism from abroad is low everywhere, even in Sweden.

[dann]

Wednesday:
Coronavirus - countries (Worldometers, Feb. 24, 2021)
Deaths per million (Total deaths) New cases Serious/Critical
Sweden: 1,262 (12,793) 5,371* 223 *according to SVT.se
Denmark: 404 (2,345) 523* 47 *of 143,149 tests (0.37%); Fully vacc.: 178,433 (3.1% of pop.), 1st dose only: 348,333 (6.0%).
Finland: 133 (737) 590 35
Norway: 114 (620) 341 20
Iceland: 85 (29) 0 8
Iceland has 16 active cases, Faroe Islands 1, New Zealand 65
The Faroe Islands have 3 in quarantine, 0 hospitalized.
Quarantine benefits set to continue in the Faroes

[dann]

Denmark announces easing of Covid-19 restrictions: Limited opening of schools and shops (TheLocal.dk, Feb. 24, 2021)
Denmark lifts UK entry ban but extends all other Covid-19 travel restrictions until April (TheLocal.dk, Feb. 24, 2021)
Mandatory testing and 10-day isolation for persons entering Denmark (Coronasmitte.dk)

Quote:

Denmark: Gradual lifting on restrictions
The Danish government is lifting some of the lockdown restrictions. Large parts of the retail sector are to reopen, and outdoor activities, such as sports clubs, will resume.
Older school students are expected to be allowed to return to classrooms in regions with lower infection rates. Denmark has been in a lockdown since December: all shops and other businesses were closed apart from supermarkets and pharmacies, and schools were open only for younger primary school children.
Covid: How are European countries tackling the pandemic? (BBC, Feb. 24, 2021)

[Vixen]

So now the Finnish government is announcing a lockdown for three weeks as from 8 Mar 2021 (so now yet again I have to cancel a flight, for Easter), thanks to the 'British variant' now making up half the new cases. Children over 13 have been ordered to learn remotely (stark contrast to the UK plans). Remember, it is 1.4 - 1.6 times more infectious than the Wuhan/Italian/Austrian variety. It also seems to be more virulent, with even thirty-year-olds needing ICU treatment. Helsinki is full and are sending Covid patients to other parts of the country.

There are many Finns and Swedes who commute across the border for work, summer cottages and relative's weddings and funerals. The ferry shipping lines between Stockholm and Turku have been virtually idle over the last year, which usually run twice a day. This is just ordinary every day life, not just to do with tourism.

[dann]

Quote:

Sweden's Prime Minister Stefan Löfven said today he really can't see any direct connection between measures taken & results in countries, in fighting the pandemic. This view was also stated at the same press conference, by the director of the Swedish Public Health Agency.
jorgenponder — om coronavirusepidemin on Twitter (Feb. 24, 2021)

There is a short video (40 sec.) of Löfven in English.

[dann]

Originally Posted by Vixen

So now the Finnish government is announcing a lockdown for three weeks as from 8 Mar 2021 (so now yet again I have to cancel a flight, for Easter), thanks to the 'British variant' now making up half the new cases. Children over 13 have been ordered to learn remotely (stark contrast to the UK plans). Remember, it is 1.4 - 1.6 times more infectious than the Wuhan/Italian/Austrian variety. It also seems to be more virulent, with even thirty-year-olds needing ICU treatment. Helsinki is full and are sending Covid patients to other parts of the country.

There are many Finns and Swedes who commute across the border for work, summer cottages and relative's weddings and funerals. The ferry shipping lines between Stockholm and Turku have been virtually idle over the last year, which usually run twice a day. This is just ordinary every day life, not just to do with tourism.

Unfortunately, Denmark never got further than the Hammer and the Dance with some remnants of Flattening the Curve, which is why we still hear the argument in the political debate of the pandemic strategy that the health-care system is still far from being overwhelmed.

Today, the number of new registered cases was 603, approximately the same number of new cases per capita as Finland's 565, but where Finland is tightening the restrictions, Denmark is relaxing them further, hoping that the combination of vaccinations and rising temperatures will help keep the numbers down, but forgetting that the lockdown last year didn't start till March 13 with a slow and gradual reopening beginning April 15.

Health-care workers and hospitals are concerned, but in parliament the right-wing parties are calling for reopening more than has already been decided. It is pretty clear that with a different government in charge of the pandemic response, Denmark might have had a strategy much more like Sweden's or the UK's.

[Vixen]

Originally Posted by dann

Unfortunately, Denmark never got further than the Hammer and the Dance with some remnants of Flattening the Curve, which is why we still hear the argument in the political debate of the pandemic strategy that the health-care system is still far from being overwhelmed.

Today, the number of new registered cases was 603, approximately the same number of new cases per capita as Finland's 565, but where Finland is tightening the restrictions, Denmark is relaxing them further, hoping that the combination of vaccinations and rising temperatures will help keep the numbers down, but forgetting that the lockdown last year didn't start till March 13 with a slow and gradual reopening beginning April 15.

Health-care workers and hospitals are concerned, but in parliament the right-wing parties are calling for reopening more than has already been decided. It is pretty clear that with a different government in charge of the pandemic response, Denmark might have had a strategy much more like Sweden's or the UK's.

We are suffering vaccine shortages now as the expected Moderna batch has failed to turn up. However, about 8% of the population are now vaccinated. About 63% of the over-80's. They were banking on getting the Moderna to complete the ones needing home care visits. They are now onto High Risk Group 1 18 (the age limit) to under 70's (the upper age limit) as the 70-80 group cannot have Astra Zeneca and the over 80's aren't finished yet. Next will be the under-70's to 18, high risk group 2, which are for the less serious underlying health issues category. They are not expecting full vaccination of all until late summer now.

Of 759 new infections recently, something like 725 are the B117 variant.

[dann]

725 out of 759! That's insane! I think it was 57 percent of all positive cases in Denmark last week.
The problem with the vaccines is the same in all EU countries. It seems to get much better in early April. Denmark will receive almost 300,000 doses in week 13.

Frode Forland, the leading epidemiologist in Norway, shoots down some to the usual excuses for Sweden's disastrous strategy and stresses that the pandemic response makes all the difference:
Norska smittan minskar: ”Man har fått kontroll” (Expressen.se, Feb. 24, 2021)
The Norwegian spread of infection is decreasing: "We are in control"

[dann]

Thursday:
Coronavirus - countries (Worldometers, Feb. 25, 2021)
Deaths per million (Total deaths) New cases Serious/Critical
Sweden: 1,262 (12,798) 4,995* 234 *according to SVT.se
Denmark: 405 (2,351) 603* 45 *of 148,538 tests (0.41%); Fully vacc.: 180,439 (3.09% of pop.), 1st dose only: 362,158 (6.20%).
Finland: 133 (740) 565 36
Norway: 114 (620) 551 18
Iceland: 85 (29) 0 8 No new numbers: Fewer Covid press conferences
Iceland has 16 active cases, Faroe Islands 1, New Zealand 67
The Faroe Islands have 3 in quarantine, 0 hospitalized.

[dann]

Sweden, week 7 (Feb. 15 to 21, 2021): 23,600 new cases, based on approximately 222,500 tested individuals, an 11 percent increase compared to weeks 6.

[dann]

Friday:
Coronavirus - countries (Worldometers, Feb. 26, 2021)
Deaths per million (Total deaths) New cases Serious/Critical
Sweden: 1,265 (12,826) 4,844* 228 *according to SVT.se
Denmark: 405 (2,353) 530* 43 *of 137,844 tests (0.38%), 64.6% are B.117. Fully vacc.: 181,084 (3.1% of pop.), 1st dose only: 375,794 (6.4%).
Finland: 134 (742) 720 38
Norway: 114 (622) 524 18
Iceland: 85 (29) 0 8 Fewer Covid press conferences
Iceland has 14 active cases, Faroe Islands 0, New Zealand 66
The Faroe Islands have 0 in quarantine, 0 hospitalized. Faroes are Covid free again
Tourists to pay for Covid tests in the Faroes throughout 2021

[dann]

Virushalterna i avloppsvattnet är skyhöga och sportlovet har inte ens börjat (SVT.se, Feb. 26, 2021)
The virus levels in sewage water are sky-high and the sports holidays haven't even started yet - See the graph in the article.

[Rolfe]

Oh for crying out loud.

[Ron Obvious]

Originally Posted by Tero

There really should not be all that many cases in Finland, as it's poorly connected. Not like Sweden and Denmark with an actual bridge between them. You don't use Finland as a through travel place. The only thing that travels on from Finland to Russia is goods shipped to Finnish ports and loaded on to trucks.

The virus variety arriving in Finland is therefore brought mainly by Finnish travelers. At this point. Tourism is low from abroad.

"You're so sadly neglected,
And often ignored,
A poor second to Belgium,
When going abroad."

[angrysoba]

Originally Posted by Tero

There really should not be all that many cases in Finland, as it's poorly connected. Not like Sweden and Denmark with an actual bridge between them. You don't use Finland as a through travel place. The only thing that travels on from Finland to Russia is goods shipped to Finnish ports and loaded on to trucks.

The virus variety arriving in Finland is therefore brought mainly by Finnish travelers. At this point. Tourism is low from abroad.

I don't know about now, but Helsinki is a pretty busy airport. I've been through a number of times. Spent almost 20 hours there once as well.

[dann]

Saturday:
Coronavirus - countries (Worldometers, Feb. 27, 2021)
Deaths per million (Total deaths) New cases Serious/Critical
Sweden: 1,265 (12,826) 4,844* 228 *according to SVT.se No new numbers till March 2.
Denmark: 406 (2,358) 520* 44 *of 163,291 tests (0.32%). Fully vacc.: 182,074 (3.1% of pop.), 1st dose only: 412,358 (7.1%).
Finland: 134 (742) 645 38
Norway: 114 (622) 262 21
Iceland: 85 (29) 0 8 Fewer Covid press conferences
Iceland has 14 active cases, Faroe Islands 0, New Zealand 65
The Faroe Islands have 0 in quarantine, 0 hospitalized.

[dann]

Sunday:
Coronavirus - countries (Worldometers, Feb. 28, 2021)
Deaths per million (Total deaths) New cases Serious/Critical
Sweden: 1,265 (12,826) 4,844* 228 *according to SVT.se No new numbers till March 2.
Denmark: 407 (2,361) 463* 41 *of 151,982 tests (0.30%). Fully vacc.: 183,106 (3.14% of pop.), 1st dose only: 418,870 (7.2%).
Finland: 134 (742) 620 38
Norway: 114 (622) 180 19
Iceland: 85 (29) 0 8 Fewer Covid press conferences
Iceland has 14 active cases, Faroe Islands 0, New Zealand 67
The Faroe Islands have 0 in quarantine, 0 hospitalized.
Incoming travellers head straight out on the town – This is one of those things that could ruin the current status of the Faroes as Covid-free. It is also an example of the insufficiency of recommendations - like when tourists in Iceland did the same thing.

[dann]

Swedish state TV, SVT, has a science show, Vetenskapens värld (The World of Science), which I have enjoyed watching over the years. Now they have a new program, Coronakampens pris (The Price of the Fight against Corona), opening with the question:

Quote:

2.5 million people have died with Covid. But how many have died of corona restrictions?

For some reasons it is of and not with corona restrictions!

There is a Twitter thread in English about the program:

Quote:

to my friends on here who are critical of the swedish covid strategy... do NOT watch vetenskapsvärld this week. You will only needlessly make yourself angry. I’ll give you a short summary in this thread.
Katie on Twitter (Feb. 28, 2021)

Government-supporting newspapers love the story:

Quote:

Bland dödsfallen i fattiga länder är många kvinnor som dött i barnsäng, nyfödda som har dött på förlossningsdagen eller första månaden.
– Det är barn som dött i lunginflammation, diarré och malaria för att de är undernärda eller inte blivit vaccinerade, säger Stefan Swartling Peterson, professor i global omställning för hälsa vid Karolinska institutet och medicinsk expert på Unicef för SVT.
Man ser också en överdödlighet hos unga vuxna i sjukdomar som tbc och hiv, förklarar Anna Mia Ekström, professor i global infektionsepidemiologi och hiv-forskare vid Karolinska institutet.
– Så vi har förlorat åratal, kanske upp till ett decennium av utveckling på bara ett år, säger hon.
Lika många döda av restriktioner som med covid (Aftonbladet.se, Feb. 28, 2021)

Among the deaths in poor countries, many women have died giving birth, new-born babies have died on the day they were born or in the first month after.
– Children have died of pneumonia, diarrhea and malaria because they are malnourished or were not vaccinated, Stefan Swartling Peterson, professor of global readjustment of health at the Karolinska Institute and medical expert at UNICEF says to SVT.
We also see excess mortality in young adults of diseases like TBC and HIV, explains Anna Mia Ekström, professor of global infection epidemiology and HIV researcher at Karolinska Institute.
– So we have lost years, maybe as much as a decade of development in just one year, she says.
Just as many died of (!) restrictions as with (!) Covid

[dann]

My 'review' of the Swedish TV program Coronakampens pris. In English, but some of the quotations are in Swedish.

[Vixen]

Originally Posted by dann

Swedish state TV, SVT, has a science show, Vetenskapens värld (The World of Science), which I have enjoyed watching over the years. Now they have a new program, Coronakampens pris (The Price of the Fight against Corona), opening with the question:
For some reasons it is of and not with corona restrictions!

There is a Twitter thread in English about the program:



Government-supporting newspapers love the story:

Among the deaths in poor countries, many women have died giving birth, new-born babies have died on the day they were born or in the first month after.
– Children have died of pneumonia, diarrhea and malaria because they are malnourished or were not vaccinated, Stefan Swartling Peterson, professor of global readjustment of health at the Karolinska Institute and medical expert at UNICEF says to SVT.
We also see excess mortality in young adults of diseases like TBC and HIV, explains Anna Mia Ekström, professor of global infection epidemiology and HIV researcher at Karolinska Institute.
– So we have lost years, maybe as much as a decade of development in just one year, she says.
Just as many died of (!) restrictions as with (!) Covid

I can't believe this. I can't imagine the UK state tv, BBC, or the Finnish one YLE, bringing out such an irresponsible and poorly argued programme.

[Vixen]

Originally Posted by dann

My 'review' of the Swedish TV program Coronakampens pris. In English, but some of the quotations are in Swedish.

Well put.

[Rolfe]

You have much malaria in Sweden?

In other news, I noted some posts back that my own local region had been "suppressed" (that is no more than two cases in any consecutive 7-day period) since 26th January. Well, we did have a small cluster. The numbers are reported three days in arrears, and on Monday last week we suddenly had five cases noted. One of these soon dropped off and we sat on four cases until today, when we were back to suppressed.

So I deduce there was a case the week before, and then four cases were reported last Friday, but there have been no more since. So far so good. (That's in just over 6,000 people.)

Our region, that's about 300,000 people I think, is back down to reporting single-figures of cases daily, and one day last week had only a single case, but it doesn't seem to have entirely got on top of it. It's improving, but as you see a problem in one area stamped out, a small cluster arises somewhere else. Three cases today. Still, if the rest of mainland Scotland was doing as well, we'd be in a very good position. Unfortunately Glasgow had 84 new cases reported today...

[dann]

Originally Posted by Rolfe

You have much malaria in Sweden?

No, I don't think they do. They are talking about third-world countries.

There is another Twitter thread in English about Swedish idea that restrictions kill more people than the pandemic:

Quote:

Is anyone surprised that two Swedish "experts," pursued this line of research? And for what? To prove lockdowns are bad and Sweden was right?
1/n
Miljontals har dött av restriktionerna https://www.svt.se/nyheter/vetenskap...estriktionerna
@svtnyheter
Tyler By Day on Twitter (Feb. 28, 2021)

[dann]

Quote:

* The number of Covid patients in intensive case is rising sharply again, with thirteen of the country's 21 regions now reporting an upward trend.
* There are now 240 patients with Covid-19 in ICU, which can be compared to 197 just ten days ago.
* Västerbotten is the county with most people in intensive care per capita, followed by Norrbotten, Jönköping and Västra Götaland.
More Covid patients in intensive care again – 20% more in ICU compared to ten days ago (RadioSweden.se, March. 1, 2021)

Quote:

* With reports that many people are not following national and regional face mask recommendations, officials are divided about why that is.
* Anders Tegnell, state epidemiologist, says, "why this certain aspect has not been followed as much, I don't know."
* But Leif Dotevall, regional medical officer at the department of communicable disease control in Västra Götaland, believes that information on masks has been unclear.
Medical official: Face mask compliance “has not been very good” (RadioSweden.se, March. 1, 2021)

Could it possibly be because you, Anders Tegnell, have spent a year telling people that face masks don't work and may even be dangerous?
Information on face masks has been wrong, not unclear.

[Rolfe]

So you don't lock down in Sweden because that might cause some child in the third world to die of malaria?

[dann]

They don't say so outright, but the idea seems to be that somehow the whole idea of lockdowns and restrictions kills.

[dann]

Monday:
Coronavirus - countries (Worldometers, March 1, 2021)
Deaths per million (Total deaths) New cases Serious/Critical
Sweden: 1,265 (12,826) 4,844* 228 *according to SVT.se No new numbers till March 2.
Denmark: 407 (2,365) 497* 44 *of 138,184 tests (0.36%). Fully vacc.: 184,435 (3.2% of pop.), 1st dose only: 429,887 (7.4%).
Finland: 135 (750) 392 39
Norway: 114 (623) 729 22
Iceland: 85 (29) 5 7 First non-quarantined Covid case in a month
Iceland has 13 active cases, Faroe Islands 0, New Zealand 69
The Faroe Islands have 0 in quarantine, 0 hospitalized.
No immediate plans to ease Covid restrictions in the Faroes

[dann]

The number of new registered cases on Tuesdays in Sweden (no numbers Saturday, Sunday, Monday) according to SVT.se:
Tuesday, Sep. 15: 840
Tuesday, Sep. 22: 1,199
Tuesday, Sep. 29: 1,543
Tuesday, Oct. 6: 1,862
Tuesday, Oct. 13: 2,203
Tuesday, Oct. 20: 3,180
Tuesday, Oct. 27: 5,191
Tuesday, Nov. 3: 10,177
Tuesday, Nov. 10: 15,779 - deaths 35
Tuesday, Nov. 17: 15,084 - deaths 61
Tuesday, Nov. 24: 17,265 - deaths 94
Tuesday, Dec. 1: 17,629 - deaths 117
Tuesday, Dec. 8: 18,820 - deaths 133
Tuesday, Dec. 15: 20,931 - deaths 153
Tuesday, Dec. 22: 22,319 - deaths 174
- - - - -
Tuesday, Dec. 29: 32,485 - deaths 205 NB. These numbers are since Wednesday 23, not Friday 25!!!
Tuesday, Jan. 5: 32,369 - deaths 258 NB. These numbers are since Wednesday Dec. 30, not Jan. 1.
- - - - -
Tuesday, Jan. 12: 17,395 - deaths 234
Tuesday, Jan. 19: 9,770 - deaths 268
Tuesday, Jan. 26: 9,123 - deaths 242
Tuesday, Feb. 2: 9,649 - deaths 224
Tuesday, Feb. 9: 8,112 - deaths 73
Tuesday, Feb. 16: 9,458 - deaths 59
Tuesday, Feb. 23: 10,933 - deaths 64
Tuesday, March 2: 11,804 - deaths 56

Anders Tegnell still isn't trying to bring down the number of new infections and deaths. He is attempting to flatten the curve:

Quote:

Anders Tegnell, statsepidemiolog på Folkhälsomyndigheten:
– Nu är vi tyvärr återigen på väg in i en uppförsbacke, det är viktigt att vi håller kurvan så platt som möjligt.
Senaste nytt om coronaviruset (Aftonbladet.se, March 2, 2021)

Anders Tegnell, state epidemiologist at the Public Health Agency:
– Unfortunately, we are now once again about to go uphill, it is important that we keep the curve as flat as possible.

Translated from Tegnellian, "about to" means that the curve is already rising.

[Vixen]

There is some Tegnell and Thunberg piparkakku here:

https://areena.yle.fi/1-50703561

I like how his hair looks like the Corona spikes.

[dann]

I tend to lose my appetite when I think of him, so no Tegnell piparkakku for me. If I needed to lose weight, I would put his photo on the fridge.

Quote:

* At Tuesday's press briefing the state epidemiologist spoke of an increase of almost 10 percent per week for the past three weeks.
* The Public Health Agency now proposes new restrictions; a limit of 500 people in stores and shopping areas.
* The proposal has been sent out for consultation, but is proposed to apply from 6 March.
Tegnell sees third infection wave approaching (RadioSweden, March 2, 2021)

[Rolfe]

https://twitter.com/stephaniemlee/st...02115306643456

[dann]

Tuesday:
Coronavirus - countries (Worldometers, March 2, 2021)
Deaths per million (Total deaths) New cases Serious/Critical
Sweden: 1,270 (12,882) 11,804* 225 *according to SVT.se No new numbers till March 2.
Denmark: 408 (2,367) 532* 39 *of 128,482 tests (0.41%). Fully vacc.: 185,677 (3.2% of pop.), 1st dose only: 449,723 (7.7%).
Finland: 136 (755) 581 39
Norway: 114 (623) 499 22
Iceland: 85 (29) 1 7 Seven turned back at the border
Iceland has 9 active cases, Faroe Islands 0, New Zealand 62
The Faroe Islands have 0 in quarantine, 0 hospitalized.

Denmark: The general R₀ is 0.9, it is 1.28 for B.117, now 72% of all positive cases

[dann]

Originally Posted by Rolfe

https://twitter.com/stephaniemlee/st...02115306643456

It is not a good idea to take Tegnell's claims for granted or to base a study of coronavirus in school children on data from a country where children are hardly ever tested.

Quote:

This is not the first time questionable (and potentially worse) Ludvigsson-Tegnell assertions have been criticized. This excellent piece from May went under the radar in Sweden. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020...avirus-schools
David Steadson retweets Jonas Persson (March 3, 2021)

[dann]

Quote:

Är på apoteket. Bland personalen har INGEN munskydd. En har VISIR. Jag är ENDA personen med munskydd på hela apoteket. Ett år in i pandemin.
Sobre on Twitter (March 2, 2021)

I'm at the pharmacy. Not a SINGLE ONE of the employees is wearing a face mask. One is wearing a VISOR. I am the only person with a face mask in the entire pharmacy. One year into the pandemic.

[Vixen]

Originally Posted by dann

I'm at the pharmacy. Not a SINGLE ONE of the employees is wearing a face mask. One is wearing a VISOR. I am the only person with a face mask in the entire pharmacy. One year into the pandemic.

I don't get why people wear a visor without a mask as studies show they do not protect you at all.

[dann]

But it's much more comfortable than face masks! And it may come in handy when people spit on you for not wearing a mask!

[dann]

Quote:

* The impact of disinformation has been deemed a rising threat to covid-19 vaccinations by Swedish Authorities.
* To combat this the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency has started a specific education for communicators in multiple regions.
* The purpose of the education is for the communicators to have strategies to recognise and handle misinformation and misdirection.
Disinformation on the web threatens Covid-19 vaccinations - False rumors fluctuate on social media (RadioSweden, March 3, 2021)

Yes, disinformation on the web kills. So does disinformation on radio and TV.