While Sweden did not have a mandatory lockdown, it wasn't like they stood by and did nothing either. They actually implemented many measures to reduce the spread of the virus:
- Closed high schools and universities.
- Banned gatherings of over 50 people.
- Banned visits to nursing homes.
- Reduced restaurant capacity and required social distancing in restaurants.
- Recommended social distancing, working from home, and avoiding unnecessary travel.
If you look at mobility data you'll see that even in the absence of official lockdown policies people were already changing their behavior to protect themselves, and the difference between Sweden and other places is not actually as big as people think.
- Closed high schools and universities.
- Banned gatherings of over 50 people.
- Banned visits to nursing homes.
- Reduced restaurant capacity and required social distancing in restaurants.
- Recommended social distancing, working from home, and avoiding unnecessary travel.
If you look at mobility data you'll see that even in the absence of official lockdown policies people were already changing their behavior to protect themselves, and the difference between Sweden and other places is not actually as big as people think.