Crowded streets and children playing outdoors.
Unusual scenes in these strange times.
But Sweden is going it alone — one of the last European countries to avoid a lockdown.
It’s urging citizens to stay at home if they feel ill, but allowing bars and restaurants to stay open.
Customers are told to observe social distancing.
Now they have to be seated and served at a table.
Children up to late secondary level are still going to school, too — because they’re said to be less susceptible to the virus — and to reduce social and economic disruption.
Other countries reason that kids can still spread it to others who may be more vulnerable.
Sweden, a country of 10 million people, has had about 4,500 confirmed cases and at least 180 deaths.
It’s setting up a temporary hospital and warning of a lack of staff and safety equipment.
And ramping up other measures.
The government said Wednesday it would increase testing, with an initial focus on health workers and others in key jobs.
And that it would ban visits to old people’s homes.
That’s several weeks behind most other European countries.
There are signs of dissent though.
A group of senior healthcare officials has written to the government calling for tougher measures.
And while Sweden’s officially staying open for business, many customers are choosing to stay away.
Prompting the center-left government to offer loan guarantees and other help to support struggling businesses.
