From Deborah, April 19, 2022:

One thing this is never mentioned, and I wish it would be, re: Sweden’s strategy was that there was so much less social friction. Although stuff certainly bubbled under the surface within my friend group - who was taking risks and who was better behaved - it never reached the surface, and our friendships have remained intact. For the most part it was so much calmer here - although life was much quieter, and the media was relentless - day to day, with shops open, kids in school, no masks, it was easy to forget. And then I would travel, and it would be like entering a war zone the minute I got to the airport, the atmosphere would change so much.

I’ve been reading the comments on Twitter in response to the lifting of the mask mandates on planes, the overwhelming majority outraged, saying they will cancel their travel plans, etc. The scale of this persistent covid mania, especially concerning the masks, is extraordinary!