Sweden is not a perfect model. Someone came up with the clever idea of using the Open Table reservation system as a rough measure of social distancing. In the second week of March 2020, restaurant resos were down 40% in Stockholm from the same week one year earlier. The restaurants are open, but business is down and many are struggling to survive. The Swedish gov't did not require social distancing, but Swedes are social distancing nonetheless. The Swedish economy overall is not doing great. GDP for the year is estimated to decline 3.6% this year, according to the Swedish Finance ministry, which is worse than the U.S. If you think the Swedish approach to the crisis is a panacea, think again. Link - American Enterprise Inst.
Sweden’s coronavirus results don’t make the case for reopening the American economy | American Enterprise Institute - AEI