Sweden vs. South Korea
Comparing the two countries’ coronavirus responses
A close look at two very different coronavirus responses. What makes the coronavirus pandemic unique is that countries all around the world are responding to the crisis simultaneously. The different approaches offer an opportunity to assess what works and what doesn’t. Here are two examples to compare.
South Korea: The country is still seeing hotspots of infection, but its per-capita deaths and its economic contraction have been among the world’s lowest. South Korea conducted widespread data collection and testing. The country had been doing work to build trust among residents, which also seems to have worked in its favor. Read more about its approach below.
Sweden: The country’s controversial approach did not require a complete lockdown. While physical distancing recommendations were in place, schools remained open as did many businesses. On Monday, it was reported that Sweden tallied zero coronavirus-related deaths in the past 24 hours for the first time since March 13. Only the week before, the country reported the highest number of Covid-19 deaths in Europe per capita over a seven-day period. Read more about the approach below.
