As Virus Deaths Rise, Sweden Refuses to Close Society
2020-04-15
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1Sweden has not banned public gatherings like most countries have because of the coronavirus pandemic.
2Crowds recently gathered near the waterfront in Stockholm to enjoy the sun.
3Anders Tegnell said he is not worried.
4He is the country's medical official leading the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
5The 63-year-old has become famous in Sweden.
6He appears on television every day.
7He tries to calmly explain the development of the outbreak.
8Countries across Europe have restricted the movement of their citizens, but Sweden has not.
9Tegnell says Sweden is finding a different way that is more "sustainable."
10Sweden is using what some call herd immunity.
11This can involve letting people become infected so that large numbers of people develop immunity in the population.
12President Donald Trump has said that Sweden is suffering as the result.
13"Sweden did that -- the herd. They called (it) the herd. Sweden is suffering very, very badly. It's a way of doing it," he said.
14But Swedish Health Minister Lena Hallengren recently told The Associated Press that the country is not trying herd immunity.
15Sweden has banned gatherings larger than 50 people, and closed schools for older children and universities.
16It has told those over 70 to stay home to avoid the virus.
17Schools for younger children, restaurants and most businesses are still open.
18It appears to be normal life.
19But, financial expert Johan Klockar says it is not normal life.
20He and his wife work from home and avoid going out.
21They see few people, and they limit their son to seeing people at school and sports activities.
22"Society is functioning, but I think it's...limited," Klockar said. "We basically stay at home."
23Most businesses in Sweden are still open, but the economic cost of the pandemic is already being felt.
24Last week, unemployment rose by 25,350 Swedes, officials said.
25It is a greater one-week rise in joblessness than during the 2008 financial crisis.
26Nearby, neighboring Denmark is already considering reopening society.
27The country put a lockdown in place four weeks ago, closing schools, borders and businesses.
28This week, the prime minister said acting quickly had helped Denmark avoid the tragedy that hit Italy and Spain.
29Together, those two nations have had 37,000 deaths.
30They are just beginning to consider a return to normal life.
31For weeks, the percentage of COVID-19 cases and deaths in Sweden and Denmark were about the same.
32But while the economic results of the lockdown are being felt in Denmark, Sweden's death rate is now nearly double Denmark's.
33After a sharp increase in deaths in Sweden, Prime Minister Stefan Lofven asked for an emergency law permitting the quick closure of public spaces and transportation if needed.
34Lofven also warned citizens to prepare for possibly thousands of deaths.
35Tegnell, however, said that Sweden's way is still the most effective, but he admitted that the future is unclear.
36He believes Sweden will avoid the sudden increase in infections that may occur when a lockdown is removed.
37"I think both Norway and Denmark are now very concerned about how you stop this complete lockdown in a way so you don't cause this wave to come immediately when you start loosening up," he said.
38Lars Ostergaard is a professor at the Department of Infectious Diseases at Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark.
39He agrees it is too soon to know which way is best.
40"There is no right or wrong way," Ostergaard said.
41"No one has walked this path before."
42I'm Jill Robbins.
1Sweden has not banned public gatherings like most countries have because of the coronavirus pandemic. 2Crowds recently gathered near the waterfront in Stockholm to enjoy the sun. Anders Tegnell said he is not worried. He is the country's medical official leading the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. 3The 63-year-old has become famous in Sweden. He appears on television every day. He tries to calmly explain the development of the outbreak. 4Countries across Europe have restricted the movement of their citizens, but Sweden has not. Tegnell says Sweden is finding a different way that is more "sustainable." 5Sweden is using what some call herd immunity. This can involve letting people become infected so that large numbers of people develop immunity in the population. 6President Donald Trump has said that Sweden is suffering as the result. 7"Sweden did that -- the herd. They called (it) the herd. Sweden is suffering very, very badly. It's a way of doing it," he said. 8But Swedish Health Minister Lena Hallengren recently told The Associated Press that the country is not trying herd immunity. 9Sweden has banned gatherings larger than 50 people, and closed schools for older children and universities. It has told those over 70 to stay home to avoid the virus. 10Schools for younger children, restaurants and most businesses are still open. It appears to be normal life. 11But, financial expert Johan Klockar says it is not normal life. He and his wife work from home and avoid going out. They see few people, and they limit their son to seeing people at school and sports activities. 12"Society is functioning, but I think it's...limited," Klockar said. "We basically stay at home." 13Most businesses in Sweden are still open, but the economic cost of the pandemic is already being felt. Last week, unemployment rose by 25,350 Swedes, officials said. It is a greater one-week rise in joblessness than during the 2008 financial crisis. 14Nearby, neighboring Denmark is already considering reopening society. The country put a lockdown in place four weeks ago, closing schools, borders and businesses. 15This week, the prime minister said acting quickly had helped Denmark avoid the tragedy that hit Italy and Spain. Together, those two nations have had 37,000 deaths. They are just beginning to consider a return to normal life. 16For weeks, the percentage of COVID-19 cases and deaths in Sweden and Denmark were about the same. But while the economic results of the lockdown are being felt in Denmark, Sweden's death rate is now nearly double Denmark's. 17After a sharp increase in deaths in Sweden, Prime Minister Stefan Lofven asked for an emergency law permitting the quick closure of public spaces and transportation if needed. Lofven also warned citizens to prepare for possibly thousands of deaths. 18Tegnell, however, said that Sweden's way is still the most effective, but he admitted that the future is unclear. He believes Sweden will avoid the sudden increase in infections that may occur when a lockdown is removed. 19"I think both Norway and Denmark are now very concerned about how you stop this complete lockdown in a way so you don't cause this wave to come immediately when you start loosening up," he said. 20Lars Ostergaard is a professor at the Department of Infectious Diseases at Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark. He agrees it is too soon to know which way is best. 21"There is no right or wrong way," Ostergaard said. "No one has walked this path before." 22I'm Jill Robbins. 23The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr.was the editor. 24________________________________________________________________ 25Words in This Story 26pandemic- n. when a disease spreads quickly among a large number of people over a wide geographic area 27sustainable- adj. able to be continued without causing severe problems or using up resources 28outbreak- n. the sudden appearance of a disease or conflict 29herd immunity- n. when a large part of a population cannot become infected with a disease because they have immunity to it 30lockdown- n. a security measure of keeping prisoners in their cells; a situation when people are not permitted to go out for a safety-related reason 31functioning- adj. to work or operate