UPDATES with court comment, number of hospitalisations, and PM quote
Sweden, which has controversially relied on mostly non-coercive measures, struggled to contain an unexpectedly strong second coronavirus wave as the country s monarch on Thursday criticised the nation s failure to save lives. I believe we have failed, Sweden s King Carl XVI Gustaf told broadcaster SVT in a preview for a programme summing up the year released Thursday.
Analysts noted the unusually sharp tone of the message from the king, whose power is ceremonial and who typically refrains from commenting on political matters, with some calling it a rebuke of the Swedish strategy.
Carl XVI Gustaf spoke of the difficult year Swedes faced as a result of Covid-19
Suggested country s approach to pandemic had failed , stating people had suffered tremendously and branded the country s death toll as terrible
Sweden has never gone into lockdown, with shops and restaurants staying open
Comes as commission found too little done to protect people at nursing homes
Swedish King says country has failed in COVID-19 response news.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from news.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.