February 2, 2022 -- Snapshot: Ontario versus Sweden

Feb.2, 2022

Sweden has two thirds the population of Ontario, but on Feb.2, 2022, Ontario had more than three times as many people in the ICU (per 100,000 population) with covid.

On Jan.5, 2022, Ontario again shut down all restaurants, all spectators at sports events, all gyms, and children had to stay away from school an extra two weeks after the holidays. Home gatherings were limited to 5 people. None of these steps were taken in Sweden, and only gatherings larger than 100 people required vaccination.

On Feb.1, Ontario allowed 50 per cent capacity for events and restaurants, but only for those with triple-vaccine passports. Thousands of people are out of work because they are unvaccinated.

So: why has Sweden continued to do better than Ontario overall?

I asked our Swedish correspondent Deborah to speculate. From her Feb.3 letter:

"....there must be truth to Sweden having higher immunity levels. And kids have been in school the entire time, so that must create a buffer of sorts. (Fyi vax not recommended for the under 12s). There has certainly been a lot less fear here. I have triple-vaxxed friends and family hunkered down in Toronto and I am not sure how they will be able to restart their lives, they have been so terrorised. But still, the spike in Ontario ICU is quite remarkable. Sweden doesn’t move the elderly into ICU, I believe they are treated in place in their care facilities, perhaps that is a difference?"