At least nine Jews die of virus in Sweden
Jewish victims in the country account for 2.7 far of the 333 people who have died so far
Sweden’s Jewish community has lost at least nine of its members to the coronavirus, translating into a death rate among Jews that is 14 times higher than their share of the population.
The fatalities, almost all of them older than 80 and many of them Holocaust survivors, account for 2.7% of the 333 people who have died in Sweden of the virus. Sweden has about 20,000 Jews, who account for 0.19% percent of the population.
Aron Szugalski Verständig, president of the Council of Swedish Jewish Communities, said the community found no immediate explanation for the disproportionate death rate among its members, whom he said contracted the virus independently of each other.
Sweden has Europe’s laxest coronavirus containment policy.
Its elementary schools are still running, though high schools shuttered several days ago. Old-age homes have been under lockdown and the government is encouraging people to observe social distancing but gyms and beauty salons, among other non-essential businesses, remain open. So are bars and restaurants, though they are restricted to table service to prevent crowding near the bar or cash register.
But Verständig said he does not believe this policy is behind any of the deaths within his community.
One victim, he said, had practiced self-isolation for the past three weeks, receiving visits only from social workers who observe strict containment and disinfection protocol.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
