The current strategy taken in Sweden to battle the Covid-19 virus has resulted in one of the highest mortality rates in the world — currently 4 to 10 times more than its neighbouring countries — and continues to put many people’s lives at risk. 
 
The adopted measures are very relaxed. Upper secondary and higher education moved online, a ban was implemented on gatherings of more than 50 people, and the Swedish Public Health Agency are urging those over 70 and anyone showing symptoms to stay at home. Not only that, but without strict, collective organisation, these recommendations/rules have been implemented inconsistently as each workplace and individual have been left alone with their own responsibility in combination with a lack of information/misinformation and necessary equipment. Furthermore, very little testing is (still) carried out in Sweden and is preserved only for the ill, and with very little follow-up: there is barely any tracing, isolation and prevention of the virus. Aiming to quarantine only the ill and the elderly has massively failed.

The Swedish approach thus ignores the World Health Organisation’s recommendations (that testing, tracing and isolation are absolutely ESSENTIAL for controlling a pandemic), as well as science and commonsensical logic. Asymptomatic and presymptomatic people carry the virus and can pass it onto others, children can also carry it and be affected, and people do not start getting ill only when in their homes, or are even responsible enough to stay at home when ill. Besides, with much talk about immunity in the Swedish media and from the Public Health Agency, many people believe getting ill is a good thing in the long run.
 
This approach has let the virus spread and resulted in the deaths of many — more than was intended as admitted by the Swedish Public Health Agency — including teachers of schools which have remained opened (but forced to close due to a lack of staff), and not to mention that many deaths have occurred in elderly care homes. People of all ages are suffering severely and are doing so in isolation or without proper care, as the healthcare system has turned many away. This is a serious, dangerous virus with grave, far-reaching and non-reversible consequences for those affected and their loved ones.
 
Protect lives. We demand that Sweden changes its strategy NOW and saves lives. We demand more and stricter testing, tracing and isolation that is based on science and precaution (early detection) – however much it takes to STOP (not slow) the spread of the virus. Based on this, we demand large-scale testing in line with WHO and ECDC standard. This involves extensive and consistent testing, across all regions, of residents — with or without symptoms — including regular, repeated testing of key workers, followed by tracing and testing of every suspected case — with and without symptoms — and finally, strict rules around isolating the infected and those places and people in contact with them for as long as necessary.

If in doubt about what this strategy involves, look to our neighbouring countries for guidance.

Sources:

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/
https://www.folkhalsomyndigheten.se/the-public-health-agency-of-sweden/
https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19---16-march-2020
https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/covid-19-rapid-risk-assessment-coronavirus-disease-2019-ninth-update-23-april-2020.pdf

***Since a successful response requires the combination of several different actions, please check out and support other related but different petitions focusing on other issues in Sweden's response to the Covid-19 virus currently circulating***

The most extensive petition and well-informed document out there where you can choose to support all or any/some of 12 different but necessary actions to save and protect lives:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSecusn3E9rMODY6v9fQKth0QtpH3bR20rF78LJ4k3rtJnMUxg/viewform?fbclid=IwAR3CHHWoqfcBmsTR_QVIxO02oxUPipQcalcW_d5o44f0KroX1FPtVh0flg4

A more general appeal to change Sweden's strategy: https://www.change.org/p/swedish-government-help-us-change-sweden-s-strategy-against-covid-19

A demand to give oxygen and basic care to people in nursing homes:
http://chng.it/RB69RWQs2q