Coronavirus: Sweden ‘has beaten coronavirus with herd immunity’

Evidence is mounting that Sweden has beaten COVID-19 with herd immunity, according to a renowned expert,

Julia Carlsson and Ellika Wohlfeil walk past a busy bar in Stockholm, Sweden. Picture: Getty Images

Evidence is mounting that Sweden has beaten the coronavirus with herd immunity rather than a lockdown, according to a renowned expert on the spread of disease.

Sweden’s infection rate has remained low and stable at a time when other European countries are facing a strong resurgence.

In Britain there are 69 cases per 100,000 people compared with 28 per 100,000 in Sweden, which did not implement strict lockdown measures in the northern spring. The infection rate in France is almost seven times higher than in Sweden, and in Spain ten times higher.

Kim Sneppen, professor of biocomplexity at Niels Bohr Institute in Copenhagen, told the Politiken newspaper: “There is some evidence that the Swedes have built up a degree of immunity to the virus which, along with what else they are doing to stop the spread, is enough to control the disease.”

A recent study by the University of Stockholm has suggested that infection in 43 per cent of the population could be sufficient for herd immunity.

Others warn that it is too early to tell. “I don’t think it can already be ruled out that Sweden will also have a flare-up,” said Allan Randrup Thomsen, professor of virology at Aarhus University.

Sweden built its response around voluntary social distancing. Its economy shrank by 9 per cent in the first months of the pandemic, compared with 20 per cent in Britain.

The Times