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Public confidence in the authorities’ ability to fight COVID-19 has fallen to 42% from 55% last month, according to a national poll conducted by the daily DN and the market research firm Ipsos.
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The Swedish public is losing confidence in the country’s strategy to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, with many worried about the capacity of the country’s health system.
Public confidence in the authorities’ ability to fight COVID-19 has fallen to 42% from 55% last month, according to a national poll conducted by the daily DN and the market research firm Ipsos.
He also found that 82% of people were “somewhat” or “very worried” whether the Swedish healthcare system could rise to the challenge, while 44% were concerned.
Sweden reported more than 34,000 new cases of COVID-19 last week, according to Johns Hopkins University, on track for a weekly record. Deaths have also increased, but the 234 deaths recorded last week are lower than the weekly record of 660 in April.
On Thursday, the Swedish Royal Court revealed that Swedish Prince Carl Philip and his wife, Princess Sofia, had tested positive for the virus, but were feeling well despite “milder flu symptoms”.
After months of voluntary measures and no lockdowns, the Swedish government turned back earlier this month by introducing restrictions on public gatherings to curb the spread of the virus.
“It is quite evident that the increase in the rate of infection, combined with the measures that the authorities have taken, has led to a sharp increase in concern,” Nicklas Kallebring, analyst at Ipsos, told DN.
The recent increase in new cases, hospitalizations and deaths has dashed hopes that the country will develop herd immunity to the virus.
On Tuesday, the Swedish state epidemiologist said the country had not seen evidence of herd immunity slowing the spread of the coronavirus in the country. “The issue of herd immunity is difficult,” Anders Tegnell said at a press briefing, according to Bloomberg. “We do not see any sign of immunity in the population which is currently slowing the infection,” he added.
In an address to the nation, Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven said on November 22 that people’s health and lives were still in danger and the danger was increasing. “More and more intensive care facilities are being used to treat critically ill COVID-19 patients. More and more people are dying. ”
Sweden’s statistics agency said on Wednesday that life expectancy in the country would likely drop in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The increased spread of covid-19 that we are seeing now could well lead to more additional deaths in the last two months of the year, which could lead to even lower life expectancy in 2020,” said Örjan Hemström , demographer at Statistics Sweden.
“Life expectancy increased steadily in Sweden during the period 1900–2019. The fact that it sinks stands out, ”added Hemström.
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