Swedish News, March 30:

At least 146 corona patients deceased in Sweden. The number of patients in intensive care, however, is decreasing. Sweden criticized internationally. Darker times await in Stockholm. Historically large number of alerts for dismissal. 

  • Image from the archive: "The state can step in as owner of large companies," said then Sweden's Minister of Finance Magdalena Andersson. The minister has earlier said more measures will come. Photo: Kristian Pohl/Government Offices of Sweden
  • At least 146 corona patients have died
    In Sweden, 146 people have died from COVID-19, the Public Health Authority informed on Monday, March 30. This is an increase of 36 people since Sunday. The number of infected people is over 4,000, and 306 people are receiving or have received intensive care throughout the country, according to the Swedish Intensive Care Register. “A sharp increase in the numbers may be due to the fact that it has been a weekend and some backlog has occurred,” according to state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell.

  • Sweden's higher death toll compared to neighboring countries is due to the amount of infected in elderly housing according to epidemiologist Anders Tegnell. "What we do in the country must have an effect," says State Epidemiologist Tegnell, "but the amount of deaths among elderly is troubling."
  • The number of patients in intensive care is decreasing
    The number of COVID-19 patients receiving intensive care has decreased, and the increase in the number of affected elderly people has also flattened. This is a big difference from how it has looked in many other countries, according to state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell. However, the metropolitan regions are severely affected along with the surrounding provinces Uppsala, Södermanland and Östergötland.

  • Stockholmsmässan assists Region Stockholm and the Swedish Armed Forces in establishing a temporary external hospital including intensive care units in parts of the fair facilities.
  • Sweden criticized internationally
    Sweden's tactics to fight the corona virus have astonished many in the world. Danish media feels Sweden is lagging behind. German media calls the Swedish strategy “relaxed" and Norwegian infection doctors are critical. French Le Monde writes that the Swedish measures are paltry, and its strategy is similar to Russian roulette, according to British The Guardian. The New York Times published a long article on March 29 speculating about how and why Sweden chooses to deal with the COVID-19 crisis in a different way than other European countries.

  • Darker times await in Stockholm
    People are working hard to secure sites for medical care, personnel and protective equipment in the Stockholm area. During a press conference at Stockholmsmässan, the Stockholm Fair in Älvsjö, where a field hospital is being built, a representative of the region stated, "We are seeing a rapid spread of infection and I would be lying if I didn't say I'm concerned about the coming weeks.”

  • Historically large number of dismissals
    Last week 18,433 workers were notified of termination. This is a sharp increase compared to the previous week when the number was at 14,200. "It is a very serious situation, both globally and in Sweden," writes Labor Minister Eva Nordmark in a comment. The Swedish government has presented a number of measures to mitigate the economic effects of the virus, including the possibility of short-term leave (“korttidspermittering").

  • The state can co-own a company
    The state can step in as owner of large companies that are about to collapse as a result of the corona pandemic, says Finance Minister Magdalena Andersson. She sees state ownership as a possible condition to supply companies in crisis situations with capital. “If taxpayers are taking a risk they should also have the opportunity to be part of revenues when things turn around, and be able to get back some of the money," she says.