It was an experiment scrutinized and debated by the whole world. While many countries locked down during the pandemic, shutting down workplaces and restaurants, my home country of Sweden stubbornly stayed open. There were no orders to remain at home or shelter in place. Schools, offices, factories, restaurants, libraries, shopping centers, gyms, and hairdressers did not close. There were no mask mandates.
There were some restrictions, but, mostly, the Swedish government just recommended that people engage in social distancing, work remotely, and stay indoors if they felt sick; it did not force anyone to follow this advice. Prime Minister Stefan Löfven declared that we should meet the crisis with common sense and individual responsibility, not government control.
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