No lockdown, but Sweden's economy is expected to suffer just as badly as the rest of Europe
Sweden did not impose a full lockdown on public life or businesses, despite the coronavirus outbreak.
People sitting in the sun on the steps of the Royal Dramatic Theater practice social distancing in Stockholm on April 22, 2020, amid the coronavirus pandemic.Sweden has attracted global attention for not imposing a full lockdown, as seen in most of Europe, to contain the coronavirus pandemic. In the first scenario, gross domestic product contracts by 6.9% in 2020 before rebounding to grow 4.6% in 2021. In a more negative prediction, GDP could contract by 9.7% and a recovery could be slower with the economy growing 1.7% in 2021.
The growth projections are sobering for a country that looked to mitigate the economic impact of the coronavirus by not shutting down its economy like the rest of Europe. Lockdowns in Germany, Spain, Italy, France and the U.K., aimed at saving countless lives, have all hit their economies severely. The Swedish government advised citizens to stay at, and work from, home if possible. Bars and restaurants remain open but social-distancing measures have been implemented, while schools for the under-16s remain open.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Swedish official Anders Tegnell says 'herd immunity' in Sweden might be a few weeks awaySweden is accused of dangerously pursuing a 'herd immunity' coronavirus strategy. Its top COVID-19 official Anders Tegnell said it was 'sustainable.'
Read more »
Geely's Volvo Cars gives notice to 1,300 white-collar staff in SwedenVolvo Car Group, owned by China's Geely Holding, said on Wednesday it was giving notice of redundancy to 1,300 white-collar workers in Sweden as the impact from the pandemic raised the urgency of lowering structural costs.
Read more »
A One-Person Restaurant with No Servers Is Opening in the Middle of a Field in SwedenEach dish will be delivered via pulleyed basket straight from the kitchen
Read more »
Japanese island suffering second wave of coronavirus after lifting lockdown too earlyA northern region of Japan is experiencing a second wave of coronavirus infections - and deaths - that experts say could have been avoided if the state of emergency had not been lifted too early. The island of Hokkaido had been held up as a model of how to control the spread of the virus, but it has
Read more »