Sweden

Abstract

The Swedish response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been exceptional. Unlike its Nordic neighbours, Sweden did not legislate for lockdown, quarantine or social distancing. Authorities issued recommendations that were less severe and always later than neighbouring countries. In the first of two public speeches, the Social Democrat prime minister Stefan Löfven addressed ‘the Swedish people’ and emphasised individual responsibility, solidarity and efforts ‘for our society and for Sweden.’117 He described a crisis and a national ‘us’ but not in contrast to an outside elite or establishment. The outside that united the ‘us’ was either the vulnerable other, a threatening crisis, or COVID-19 itself.