No masks, no lockdowns: How did that go for Sweden? 

Words: Johan Anderberg Producer: Louise Starkey

When Covid hit, Sweden went its own way, becoming a control group in a vast experiment. Two years on, the results are clear.

In Feb­ruary 2020, school break had ended in Stockholm. Many of those who had returned from Italy and Austria had brought back a mysterious pneumonia-like illness. They were carrying SARS-CoV-2 — a virus originating in China.

The infection, Covid-19, was rapidly spreading — but as the world grappled with lockdowns and border closures, Sweden stayed open.

For almost all of 2020, the Scandinavian nation imposed no curfews, kept compulsory schools open, and didn't force its citizens to wear face masks.

When the Swedish parliament recommended face masks for its members a year into the pandemic, it had the effect of highlighting the fact that for all that time, members of parliament had not been masking up. For almost all of 2020, Sweden had chosen a —different path. So, how did it go?

During the months that followed, the virus continued to ravage the world, and the death toll in several of the countries that had locked down began to surpass Sweden's one by one.

The UK, the US, France, Poland, Portugal, Hungary, Spain, Argentina, Belgium — countries that had shut down playgrounds, closed schools, fined citizens for hanging out on the beach, and surveilled parks with drones — were all hit harder than Sweden.

In ­Sweden, everyone had retained their legal right to move freely within the country. With a few exceptions, youth sports had been allowed to continue.

The primary schools had kept operating. Parks and beaches had remained open. No Swede had been prohibited from leaving their house.

By December 2021, 56 countries had registered more deaths per capita from Covid-19 than ­Sweden.

During the period of just under 18 months between January 2020 and June 2021, Sweden had experienced an excess mortality of minus 2.3 per cent. Together with seven other European countries, the nation had actually experienced a mortality deficit.

Swipe up for more information on Sweden's tactic on battling Covid-19. Learn more