Denmark and Sweden: An apples to apples comparison

[S209]

https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.24.20078717v1.full.pdf

I’m not even going to bother reading it, the first paragraph was enough. Really? We’re comparing Italy, Spain, France, and the UK? How about one of the countries that, you know, actually LOCKED DOWN BEFORE THE SPREAD?!

[CountValentine]

I’m not even going to bother reading it, the first paragraph was enough. Really? We’re comparing Italy, Spain, France, and the UK? How about one of the countries that, you know, actually LOCKED DOWN BEFORE THE SPREAD?!

We didn't lock down before the spread, correct? So wouldn't it pertain to us now?

[KSMH]

Our Governments orginal failure to contain a pandemic shall not force us all to "stay at home".

[S209]

We didn't lock down before the spread, correct? So wouldn't it pertain to us now?

Our Governments orginal failure to contain a pandemic shall not force us all to "stay at home".

Why would you blame it on the government? You are responsible for your own actions. You and I should have stayed home to save lives.

The US messed it up. If we lift restrictions now, there is plenty of reason to assume the virus will come back with a vengeance. That said, if there is a study that is looking to find the difference between a country locking down or not they should not pick specifically the UK, France, Italy and Spain, unless they’re trying to hammer preexisting agenda home.

Are you saying social distancing doesn’t have an effect on the virus? That’s patently ridiculous. Are you saying there was institutional failure at the top to proactively prevent spread? True. Are you trying to study the effects of locking down vs. not locking down? Then use an unbiased sample of different countries with varying timelines and measures to find a pattern in what truly stops the spread, and how. Don’t try to find the perfect spot in the worst hit counties and nit pick that you found some metrics that fit with your agenda.

[aygart]

Why would you blame it on the government? You are responsible for your own actions. You and I should have stayed home to save lives.

The Govt should have contained the pandemic. THe Govt shouldn't force us to do anything which will contain the pandemic.

[S209]

The Govt should have contained the pandemic. THe Govt shouldn't force us to do anything which will contain the pandemic.

That’s so very logical

[aygart]

That’s so very logical

Exactly my point.

[S209]

Exactly my point.

I’m not sure if you’re agreeing or disagreeing with me

[Lurker]

I’m not sure if you’re agreeing or disagreeing with me

His post was illustrating the hypocrisy of that stance.

[aygart]

I’m not sure if you’re agreeing or disagreeing with me

You haven't seen enough from me to know that

His post was illustrating the hypocrisy of that stance.

?

[aygart]

I’m not sure if you’re agreeing or disagreeing with me

"I am not sure if you were sarcastic and I am not sure if I was sarcastic or if you were sarcastic in thinking that I was sarcastic that you were sarcastic......"

[S209]

"I am not sure if you were sarcastic and I am not sure if I was sarcastic or if you were sarcastic in thinking that I was sarcastic that you were sarcastic......"

Exactly

ETA: I just reread the original post from @KSMH and then I actually laughed

[S209]

Update:

Denmark: DPM 87
Sweden: DPM 301

99 people have reportedly died of COVID in Sweden today, 87 yesterday.
0 people have reportedly died of COVID in Denmark today, 3 yesterday.

Denmark reopened schools weeks ago, and is well on its way back to life as normal. Obviously they are still strictly restricting and regulating things but they are probably around on par with where Sweden is now as far as social distancing and the economy. How different will the economic impact be on Denmark vs. Sweden?

[Iz]

https://www.wsj.com/articles/sweden-has-avoided-a-coronavirus-lockdown-its-economy-is-hurting-anyway-11588870062

[S209]

https://www.wsj.com/articles/sweden-has-avoided-a-coronavirus-lockdown-its-economy-is-hurting-anyway-11588870062

Denmark is just about in the same place as Sweden now as far as the economy and schools, and has been for nearly a month. The major difference? 135 died of COVID in Sweden today, while 8 died in Denmark. For both countries, that’s slightly above average for the past week or two.

Unless it’s pure herd immunity they’re chasing, which they vehemently deny (and we can’t judge just yet), it looks to have been a horrible decision thus far

[AsherO]

Denmark is just about in the same place as Sweden now as far as the economy and schools, and has been for nearly a month. The major difference? 135 died of COVID in Sweden today, while 8 died in Denmark. For both countries, that’s slightly above average for the past week or two.

Unless it’s pure herd immunity they’re chasing, which they vehemently deny (and we can’t judge just yet), it looks to have been a horrible decision thus far

Fascinating. Thanks for keeping ontop of this and sharing.

[Yard sale]

Sweden’s chief epidemiologist is calling it a clear success and says that other than preparation at long-term care facilities he would do the exact same thing all over again.

"We're always compared with other countries but you have to remember there's a lot of other countries in Europe that had huge lockdowns and much worse situations than Sweden," Tegnell said, pointing to Belgium which has a similar population to Sweden and has seen 50,781 cases and 8,339 deaths so far, despite a strict lockdown.“

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cnbc.com/amp/2020/05/07/sweden-coronavirus-chief-scientist-admits-lessons-have-been-learned.html

[S209]

Sweden’s chief epidemiologist is calling it a clear success and says that other than preparation at long-term care facilities he would do the exact same thing all over again.

"We're always compared with other countries but you have to remember there's a lot of other countries in Europe that had huge lockdowns and much worse situations than Sweden," Tegnell said, pointing to Belgium which has a similar population to Sweden and has seen 50,781 cases and 8,339 deaths so far, despite a strict lockdown.“

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cnbc.com/amp/2020/05/07/sweden-coronavirus-chief-scientist-admits-lessons-have-been-learned.html

If he’s randomly pointing to Belgium then I’ll point to Israel as a counterpoint. Are we comparing apples to apples or apples to oranges now?

[CountValentine]

If he’s randomly pointing to Belgium then I’ll point to Israel as a counterpoint. Are we comparing apples to apples or apples to oranges now?

The question remains. Why can he point to other countries that had strict lockdowns but did far worse than his country?

[S209]

The question remains. Why can he point to other countries that had strict lockdowns but did far worse than his country?

Isn’t an obvious differentiator that they locked down AFTER a large amount of the spread had occurred? Different countries were impacted in different ways depending on different things that we don’t yet know the answer to, and may never. Weather, age of population, density, mobility, economics and other factors may play significant roles.

This thread was about comparing two very similar countries who are geographic neighbors and hit at the same time with very different strategies. Clearly, Denmark’s strategy has proven superior as far as preventing larger amounts of COVID related deaths, at least in the short term. Time will tell how they are each impacted economically and in the future should another wave hit.