The ”free” life in Sweden.

As many know, Sweden has chosen a different way to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic. Many big countries are at the moment in lockdown here in  Europe, and many more around the world have been preparing for a lockdown by emptying all the grocery stores. Countries like the USA and Trump have said that Sweden “Is suffering”.
I’m here to tell you this, we are not suffering!

I’m a 15 year old girl in Sweden, born in Canada, and I have not been much affected at all by the corona outbreak. In the beginning we were not many student in class at school. But about a week after we were already full class again. We have though taken actions in all Swedish schools by closing down all the upper secondary schools and higher. But all below, that includes me, are still in school but with few changes. We always have to wash our hands before lunch with teachers watching. In the school cafeteria we have to sit a few tables apart per group. And our PE lessons are always outside now. It has been made a law that we can’t be more than 50 people at the same place. But in other places like Ontario Canada, the limit is as low as 5.

I have been affected the most outside of school. I play tennis Monday to Friday every week and we are still playing as much as we used to and we have just started to play outside as we were scheduled to do. But some big tournaments have been canceled as we can only be 50 people at the same place. So many of my big important tournaments have been canceled, and that I am very sad about. I don’t know why tennis is still this active, but many other sports have been even more restricted. I used to go  into the city often and go to the mall. I actually still do. Many people still do. But not as much as we used to. And there’s not many there. Some times I’ve seen old people strutting by. But everyone respects them by walking by from a far distance. I think that they shouldn’t be at the mall at all. Especially now that stores at the mall have taken action by doing home delivery. So I don’t see the point at all for the old to even be there! Many stores have had to shut down completely. From bigger names like MQ, to smaller private own shops and restaurants.

I feel like many of the Swedish people ARE taking corona virus seriously!! So I get angry when others say we don’t, **cough cough**... Trump....
For some it may not seem like it as we still are “free”. And many think Sweden is doing the wrong thing by taking these minimum actions. But studies by for example Harvard University have shown that Sweden IS doing the right thing by not taking as big actions as many other countries. By keeping the people in the risk zone at home, keeping a certain group of students at home, restricting sports and more, we have managed to keep a steady line with infected that isn’t going up nearly as fast as other countries, and we also have been dropping down in both kill count and infected count. This number will most certainly rise more as time flies, but by the time the second wave might hit, most people in Sweden will have had corona in some way. From a small cold to the people who have been in the hospital, we will have a chance to immunity if that is proven soon to be the case. And if not, well... I still think that locking up everyone isn’t helping the situation. The poor will suffer the most as they will run out of food the fastest. As corona virus isn’t deadly for this outside the risk zones, I don’t think it’s necessary at all to keep EVERYONE looked up. The virus will not spread as much. But it will cost these countries economically.

And just something to keep your mind running. There has been conspiracy’s about China creating and releasing the virus. This would be completely game changing as China would have inflicted a biological war against the whole world. And I think this does make a little sense as it have been proven that they have been experimenting with Covid-19 for more then two whole years ago! And it doesn’t make sense that it started in China and that they seem to not even have a problem with it. It’s almost like the had a cure to begin with. It would cost them a few thousand lives, but what does that matter when they would become the only country right now that isn’t going down economically, but instead going up. Maybe that is Chinas to become the richest county in the world. Who knows?

I would love to keep informing all about Sweden’s thoughts and my perspective.

Thank you //Ellie 15

All from Canada

In Ontario, you are now not allowed to be in groups larger than 5 people. Our teachers started online learning for us yesterday so we have school work to do every day. For now, I am keeping busy by taking our dog for walks doing workouts that our running coach is giving us and doing softball practice with my dad.  Yesterday when I went with my mom rollerblading (my mom was running) it was so cute because the animals seemed to be out more.  Maybe because there are fewer cars.  A squirrel was running along the top of the fence beside us like it was following us.  Then we saw a bunny that ran along beside us for a while.  We also have coyotes near our house.  I hope we don't see one!

Life in England

News from London, England  
Since the day, Covid-19 entered England the government has urged the public to stay at home. Around two and half weeks ago all schools in England were shut due to the virus,  however before this happened, my school closed to have a deep clean as a student and teacher showed symptoms of the virus. We now do our lessons on-line. Our prime minster then announced to the country that he was putting England on lockdown which meant that only people working in essential services were allowed to go to work and so all non essential shops and businesses closed. Most people are working from home. We cannot leave our house except to get essential supplies from the supermarket or medicene and only one member of our family is allowed to do this. We are allowed to exercise once a day with members of the family. Meaning that I cannot see my friends or other members of my family instead we facetime or instagram regularly.

To pass time I have gone on dog walks with my dog Clemmie - we are only allowed to walk in the local area and she has to stay on a lead.  I have tie-dyed T-shirts, read books, watched some Netflix and done schoolwork and homework that our teachers have set us. We cannot visit relatives and they cannot come to our house and when we do go outside we have to keep 2 metres away from any other people. Last night, on the news we found out that our Prime Minster, Boris Johnson is in hospital in intensive care with the coronavirus. Finally, every Thursday night everybody in England goes outside their houses to clap for the NHS (the UK's National Health System) to thank them for treating people whilst putting their own lives at risk.