Sweden taking lax approach to coronavirus, top doc says it’ll ‘probably end in a historical massacre’

People chat and drink in Stockholm, Sweden, Wednesday, April 8, 2020. Swedish authorities have advised the public to practice social distancing because of the coronavirus pandemic, but still allow a large amount of personal freedom, unlike most other European countries.

Following the terrible examples of China, the United States, Britain and others, Sweden has decided that coronavirus is overrated.

The European nation known for being cold and socialist has not ordered any sort of lockdown, is still allowing up to 50 people to gather in groups and has been weeks behind the rest of Europe on social distancing advice, Time Magazine reported.

A top doctor as a large Swedish hospital told Time that this lackadaisical approach will “probably end in a historical massacre.”

Real restrictions in the country only apply to those age 70 or older and other vulnerable populations, according to CNN. But restaurants, bars, schools and offices are all still open as the government hopes voluntary action from Swedes will save them.

So far, it’s not working. At least 870 Swedes have died from COVID-19, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins. That’s more than four times as many deaths as its Scandinavian neighbors, Norway (113) and Finland (48) have seen combined.

Doctors and other health experts are begging the government to actually lead and take severe action, as has been done in almost every other country not just in Europe but around the world.

“We think there is no scientific evidence for their strategy,” Cecilia Söderberg-Naucler, an expert in microbial pathogenesis, told CNN. She was one of many who signed an open letter to the government urging stronger action.

Additionally, a higher percentage of Swedes who test positive for coronavirus have died from COVID-19. Nearly 9% of people in Sweden who have tested positive have died from the disease, compared with 1.8% in Norway and 1.7% in Finland.

Testing is not widespread or consistent across countries, but Sweden has also made limited efforts to ramp up testing or attempt to trace where coronavirus has spread from, according to Time.

Worldwide, more than 100,000 people have now died from COVID-19, yet Sweden continues to attempt business as usual.