Spring has come to Stockholm and, despite the chilliness, the sun is out and a small crowd gathers beneath the blossoming cherry trees of Kungsträdgården, one of the most popular parks in the Swedish capital.Teenagers grin and take selfies. In the nearby cafes, people are bowed over laptops. Others drink coffee outside with friends and discuss Easter holiday plans. There is an air of calm and normality... in stark contrast to the panic sweeping the rest of Europe with the spread of Covid-19.
Among the patrons of one cafe is Ludvig Jansson, a 38-year-old developer, whose entire company is now working remotely. “I have colleagues who are staying home but I think if you can, you should go support cafes and restaurants as long as possible,” he says. “When the government says so, I will definitely stay home. Sweden snubs coronavirus lockdown with schools, restaurants still open
As coronavirus puts Europe under lockdown, Sweden stands apart with its ‘business as usual’ approach – but how long can it last?
Spring has come to Stockholm and, despite the chilliness, the sun is out and a small crowd gathers beneath the blossoming cherry trees of Kungsträdgården, one of the most popular parks in the Swedish capital.Teenagers grin and take selfies. In the nearby cafes, people are bowed over laptops. Others drink coffee outside with friends and discuss Easter holiday plans. There is an air of calm and normality... in stark contrast to the panic sweeping the rest of Europe with the spread of Covid-19.
Among the patrons of one cafe is Ludvig Jansson, a 38-year-old developer, whose entire company is now working remotely. “I have colleagues who are staying home but I think if you can, you should go support cafes and restaurants as long as possible,” he says. “When the government says so, I will definitely stay home.” Sweden’s approach thus far has been laissez-faire in comparison even with Nordic neighbours such as Denmark, which has restricted meetings to 10 or fewer people and ordered the closure of most public spaces.
It's also closed its borders to all but essential travellers. In Sweden meanwhile, it is largely business as usual, with most schools open and meetings of up to 50 people permitted. Cafes and restaurants can remain open as long as they serve only seated customers and space out the tables. Many companies like Jansson’s are opting to work remotely as part of government recommendations, but are not obliged to.
“Basically, the Swedish authorities are putting a lot of responsibility on the citizens,” Dr Emma Frans, an epidemiologist working in Karolinska Institute, tells The Independent.
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