Corona Virus - Lockdown Lite Formula - Sweden's Gamble
The daily Corona Virus statistics, showing the majority of infections and deaths to be in the over age 60s,and vulnerable groups such as those with underlying health conditions,then compulsory Lockdown Lite would apply to those categories only. As Sweden are trying.
They would be supported with their daily needs and financially, by an economy kept running and better able to do so.
I'm a big fan of the BBC.I think they are a national treasure, but I've just watched the Friday early evening news and they covered the virus situation in all the major European countries and the USA,who are all following the same total lockdown policy.
But not a mention of Sweden,apparently taking a more relaxed approach with crowd gatherings limited and the vulnerable groups home isolating.But businesses,shops and bars remain open.There is criticism from their medical service, but the Swedish government have listened but ignored them so far.
I'm very interested in Sweden's approach. It's probably too early to draw major conclusions, but the number of coronavirus cases and fatalities in Sweden is roughly similar to most countries that have "lockdown" policies, when adjusted for population.
And countries like Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea, which have used different ways to stop the disease spreading, not "lockdown" measures, have experienced significantly lower instances of the disease, and significantly fewer deaths.
A doctor from Yale wrote a very interesting article in the New York Times suggesting this approach:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/20/opinion/coronavirus-pandemic-social-distancing.html