Many countries have been introducing strict measures to slow the spread of Covid-19 in recent days. Germany, for instance, has now limited the number of people to meet to only two. California's governor urged people to "shelter in home" effectively placing the state in a lockdown. 

Sweden's neighbours, Denmark and Norway, introduced strict measures early on. However, Sweden is taking a more relaxed approach to slow the spread of coronavirus. Sweden is on a so-called "voluntary lockdown".

In Stockholm, the city is much less busy than normal.  The streets are much less busy and public transportation is far less packed. The bus drivers are protected with red and white tape blocking the public from getting too close to them. Instead of entering the bus in the front to blip your public transit card, now you can only enter the rear doors. The cafes still have visitors, but much less than usual. Although, over the weekend, if a cafe had chairs in the sun when the weather was nice, they were certainly filled with people. In the Central station,  it is very easy to spot travellers that have masks on to protect themselves with both medical masks or scarves. The public is certainly taking precautions against spreading the virus voluntarily, but is it enough? Are we practising enough social distancing? And why is it that Sweden is taking this relatively more relaxed voluntary approach to public health? 

Why is Denmark's coronavirus lockdown so much tougher than Sweden's?- The Local DK

"The differences are quite extreme. Denmark was one of the first countries in Europe to close its borders, and has closed all schools, kindergartens, restaurants, and cafés and banned all gatherings of more than ten people.

In Sweden kindergartens, elementary schools, bars and cafés are still open as normal."

"In Sweden, state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell has come under fire from both scientists and from the public for not pushing for a tougher lockdown. 

 'How many lives are they willing to sacrifice to avoid closing down and risking major consequences for the country's economy,' Joachim Rocklöv, a professor of epidemiology and public health sciences at Umeå University, said in an email conversation obtained by Swedish public broadcaster (SVT)".

"Sweden's state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell, who has been the leading force behind Sweden's more gradualist approach, explained to DR why Sweden had taken a more slowly-slowly approach.  

'In Sweden, our assessment is that its not relevant any more to close borders because the infection has already spread so much in every country in Europe, that inhibiting travel wouldn't have an effect,' he said.

Tegnell said it was difficult to judge at present, but that his feeling was that Denmark's government had acted too rapidly and  heavy handedly.

'From a Swedish perspective, it looks like you are reacting a  little too quickly,'  he told DR.  'We will see, after all this has finished, who comes out best.'" -- The Local 

What do you think? Is the Swedish government taking strong enough precautions? What did you think of  Prime Minister Stefan Löfven's address to the nation last night? Do you think that your friends and family are being precautious enough despite strict regulation?

If you live outside of Sweden, you can still state your opinion about your own country's situation.