German here who moved to Sweden in 2006.
Since January, state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell has constantly made claims which turned out to be inaccurate, misleading or at least overly optimistic. Among the more devastating ones is that he in an interview on February 8 stated that "there is absolutely no risk for coronavirus when traveling to skiing vacations in the Alps/Southern Europe".
To me, such a lack of foresight as an epidemiologist alone disqualifies him from the heavy role he has.
Therefore, I don't take any claim he makes seriously. Sadly, he loves media appearance and seems to be giving interviews all day long, every day. So it's totally impossible to escape those claims. They are everywhere.
Shockingly, his display of (partial?) incompetence has hardly impacted the credibility he enjoys among large parts of the Swedish society. In fact, many people totally love him. That's something I just cannot comprehend. To me, it looks like mass hypnosis.
My personal stance by now is that I'm not following the Swedish Health Agency's recommendations, but the German authorities', which I consider more trustworthy and competent (based on the absence of a track record of false predictions, a respect of cautionary principles, and an absence of exaggerated self-assurance).
However, I don't like feeling that way. Usually I'm "emotionally" only reverting back to my native country when it comes to the Football World Cup :)
Shockingly, his display of (partial?) incompetence has hardly impacted the credibility he enjoys among large parts of the Swedish society. In fact, many people totally love him. That's something I just cannot comprehend. To me, it looks like mass hypnosis.
My personal stance by now is that I'm not following the Swedish Health Agency's recommendations, but the German authorities', which I consider more trustworthy and competent (based on the absence of a track record of false predictions, a respect of cautionary principles, and an absence of exaggerated self-assurance). However, I don't like feeling that way. Usually I'm "emotionally" only reverting back to my native country when it comes to the Football World Cup :)