After criticism, the Swedish government did impose restrictions in Autumn 2020, although fewer than in other EU member states.
Authorities instead relied heavily on voluntary recommendations for people to socially distance themselves while keeping businesses, schools, and many public spaces open.
The government’s own commission has accepted that a majority had opted for a different COVD-19 strategy, but will defer its assessment until its final report in February 2022.
In December, the commission had already presented a first report on the management of old people’s homes, which it described as a “failure”.
Sweden has recorded more than 15,000 deaths from the coronavirus, a much higher rate per capita than other Nordic countries.