Sweden has not imposed strict closure orders such as those seen elsewhere in Europe to stop the spread of the new Corona virus, instead it has called on citizens to take responsibility for following the guidelines for social separation. The gatherings prevented more than 50 people and prevented visits to nursing homes.
The Swedish approach is seen as a distinction among the countries of the world, as the government did not rush to isolate its citizens and expand the procedures for prohibiting movement and gatherings, which reflected on the society that did not deal with the situation in a state of panic.
However, Sweden seems to want to reverse its decision and is actively considering imposing stricter restrictions on citizens, to combat the spread of the virus.
Stephen Leuven, Sweden’s Prime Minister, said that after taking a “flexible” approach to restrict movement within the country, the measures in the country “are not good enough”.
Leuven faced criticism over Sweden’s decision not to close bars, cafes, restaurants, schools, and companies, and only to advise the people to implement social measures of separation, and the government was criticized for not being prepared for the epidemic by storing emergency medicines.
Lovin, who has been prime minister since 2014, added that previous governments and parties were responsible for the lack of equipment.
“It is the responsibility of all parties to do this, because the civil defense had been phasing out emergency supplies gradually after the Cold War, so we are talking about three decades of lack of an emergency strategy,” he said.
Despite Sweden’s decision to reject the policy of closure, it has put in place some measures such as banning gatherings of more than 50 people, encouraging distance education and working from home, closing homes for the elderly.
A spokesman for the Prime Minister said: “We want measures that work in the long term, because this epidemic will likely continue for months.”