Jordan Schachtel on the lassez faire approach to the coronavirus

There’s something about human nature that causes people in power to want to “do something” when faced with an unknown problem.  Yet sometimes, doing nothing is better than “doing something.”  When it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more evidence is emerging that the laissez-faire approach to the issue — at least on a governmental/”public health” level — was the solution all along.  The path chosen by Sweden, Belarus and a select few nations — which put the power in the hands of individuals to make their own health choices, instead of imposing draconian government edicts — appears to have won the day.  With almost two years of data now in our hands, it sure seems that the ruling class has a lot to answer for.

~ Jordan Schachtel, "Freedom Won the Lockdown Battle," Brownstone Institute, September 28, 2021

Jay Bhattacharya and Martin Kulldorf on the risk of child-to-adult Covid transmission and the Sweden experience

There is little purpose in using tests to check asymptomatic children to see if it is safe for them to come to school. When children are infected, most are asymptomatic, and the mortality risk is lower than for the flu. While adult-to-adult and adult-to-child transmission is common, child-to-adult transmission isn’t. Children thus pose minimal risk to their teachers. If a child has a cough, a runny nose or other respiratory symptoms, he should stay home. You don’t need a test for that. 

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Sweden was the only major Western country that kept schools open for kids 15 and younger throughout the pandemic, with no masks or mass testing. How did it turn out? Zero Covid-19 deaths among 1.8 million children attending day care or school. Teachers didn’t have an excess infection risk compared with the average of other professions.

~ Jay Bhattacharya and Martin Kulldorf, "The Case Against Covid Tests for the Young and Healthy," The Wall Street Journal, September 3, 2020

Tweet compares coronavirus response in Sweden to Illinois

governor pritzker in illinois has loved his lockdown.

but has it accomplished anything?

it does not look like it.

sweden and illinois have similar characteristics but sweden counts covid deaths more aggressively. 

this should give the advantage to IL.

but they still lost.

~ el gato malo, @boriquagato, tweet, August 8, 2020

Anders Tegnell on the global lockdowns in response to Covid-19

It was as if the world had gone mad, and everything we had discussed was forgotten. The cases became too many and the political pressure got too strong. And then Sweden stood there rather alone.

~ Anders Tegnell, Sweden's state epidemiologist, "Sweden's Covid Expert Says 'World Went Mad' With Lockdowns," Bloomberg, June 24, 2020

Dr. Johan Giesecke on what led to the global shutdown over the coronavirus

Q: You've been a leading epidemiologist for you whole career.  You've dealt with influenzas, SARS, and you advised the World Health Organization.  What was it about this pandemic that was so different that has led to this global shutdown?

Dr. Giesecke: New disease, a lot of people dying, we don't know what will really happen, and this fear of contagion I think is almost genetic in people.  And showing political strength.  Decisiveness, force.  Very important for politicians.

~ Dr. Johan Giesecke, "Why lockdowns are the wrong policy - Swedish expert Prof. Johan Giesecke," 22:30 mark, April 17, 2020