No Country for Old People

Sweden did not set out to kill thousands of its older citizens. Nor did any country as COVID-19 swept across the globe. But Sweden’s unique and closely watched approach to the pandemic has spotlighted the tragic toll the coronavirus has taken on the elderly. It has cast a harsh light on the value that societies have placed on the freedoms of some to the expense of others.

In March, when many European countries imposed strict lockdown, Sweden experimented with mostly voluntary measures. Gyms, shops, businesses, and restaurants remained open, though citizens