How Sweden’s Herd-Immunity Approach Defied the World

… Swedish journalist Johan Anderberg joins the show to talk about how he captured a rare moment in his country’s history during the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

His book, “The Herd: How Sweden Chose Its Own Path Through the Worst Pandemic in 100 Years,” explains this unique time. In it, he gives a fly-on-the-wall account of the herd-immunity strategy that Sweden adopted during the first year of the pandemic.

• First, the government instituted no restrictions.
• Then, it declined to order that people wear face masks.
• While the rest of the world looked on with incredulity, condemnation, admiration, and even envy, Sweden stood alone in its decisions.

“We have to value the fact that different countries do different things,” Johan says.

Here’s what you’ll learn by listening:

• How the Swedish COVID-19 strategy veered far from what the rest of the world was doing.
• Why “The Swedish Experiment” has been alternately praised and held up as a cautionary tale.
• In what ways Sweden’s laissez-faire strategy with few restrictions worked.
• Differing perspectives—no judgment or right/wrong—about the actions and reactions of governments, communities and individual citizens during a medical crisis.