Hi Chris,

Yonks ago, in the mid-eighties, I was researching patron-client systems, and of course social systems around the Mediterranean. Some writers, especially Jeremy Boissevain, Silverman, Banfield, (and James C. Scott in relation to S-E Asian countries) contrasted Mediterranean and Scandinavian societies, to try to understand at least partly why there seemed to be less political corruption in Scandinavian countries.

Writers highlighted the out-door living of people in Mediterranean societies, the 'friendliness' and sociality of the people there - compared to the more abrupt, reserved nature of Scandinavians in their much less congenial climate. In Mediterranean societies, there was/is much more mutuality and almost compulsive sharing and reciprocity - you do me a favour, some day I'll do you a favour; and vice versa - while in Scandinavia, people may be more self-sufficient, more 'indoors', more into nucleated families, even more individualist.

So it could be that, in all Scandinavian countries, social distancing is more 'natural', more everyday. Of course, that doesn't explain away the poor record of Sweden compared to other Scandinavian countries in relation to this virus.

Just a thought :)

Joe

Joe, that is an interesting observation.

Differences between cultures might also explain why certain Asian societies have been more successful.

They also learned from SARS experience.

In a highly individualised country like the US, already with a distrust of govt, it was always going to be much harder limiting virus numbers, especially in certain states.

at moment, Sweden 580 deaths per million, Australia 33, UK and USA around 610

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

Hi Chris,

And maybe one reason why the virus might have hit Sweden harder than, say, iceland or Finland, is that it is perhaps much more cosmopolitan than the other Scandinavian countries, especially Stockholm vis-a-vis Oslo or Helsinki or Reykjavik.

Almost invariably, when this virus has struck in a country, it has hit the most cosmopolitan areas first, and hardest: New York rather than Soggy Bottom ALB, London rather than Stoke Poges, Paris rather than Grand-Cul-des-Marais, Sydney rather than Oodnagalarby.

Joe

Canem Malum,

No one is safe until we get a vaccine.

Although I must admit China was able to fix the problem (BULLSH!T).

Sweden 2.0 = United States of America - as 'liberated' by the Trumpster.

Maybe Sweden has achieved some level of herd immunity, but what have/had they been doing to restrict virus transmission?
And, their death rate has been shocking!

Perhaps they are mostly sensible people who wore masks religiously and maintained social distancing and didn't just treat the virus as 'business as usual'?
And, I don't think they go to the beach much - bikinis or trench coats? And, maybe they stay home a lot?

And anyway, 'herd immunity' has not yet actually been 'proven' to be sustainable.

One the other hand, almost all of Oz has mostly 'restricted' virus spread/infection due to good management - including effective tracing and isolating.
Melbourne = Dan the Man = an 'entitled' populace = stupidity on steroids.
Actions speak louder ...

What is the main religion in Sweden? Maybe they're 'blessed'?
Could God be sharing the Nth Pole with Santa?

Anyway, California combusting at 121 fahrenheit (122F = 50Celsius) - that's hot! And, that's in early Autumn/Fall.
Our mid-Summer 103F? (39.4C) and hot hot hot = 45C?
But Climate Change is a myth? Just like 'evolution', and Covid!

What else can we debunk? The Moon is really made of cheese?
Donald Trump really is a Christian who cares more about everyone than for himself?
Daniel Andrews is really the best leader since Attila the Hun?
Israel is really a Presbyterian State?
Politics in the US does not try to 'engineer' the Judiciary - and especially not The High Court!

There's obviously no hope for some Conspiratorial minds - or 'fake' believers.
(Oh, and maybe there will never be an effective vaccine?)