Thread by @TwisterFilm

At last, the Guardian and much of the UK media is forced to acknowledge Sweden's moderate approach to COVID is paying dividends. Unlike other European countries there's (so far) no second wave; despite no masks and a minimal lockdown; and all by consent👇 theguardian.com/world/2020/sep…

2./ Their strategy wasn't without its problems (care homes yet again) and it might not have worked in the UK at the beginning but their strategy has been consistent and is sustainable. Here's a reminder of how the same paper once described their approach 👇

3./ First they compared it to Russian roulette (as if imploding the economy doesn't cost lives or impact on health). Then a few mavericks were rounded up to claim it was going to lead to catastrophe. One scientist even predicted ICUs were poised to run out. They never did👇

4./ Then they claimed officials were involved in a cover up to engineer...herd immunity. As if that was a dastardly plot when in the absence of a vaccine or total eradication of the virus (who would bet on that?) may well end up having to be part of everyone solution.👇

5./ When things did go awry (as they did elsewhere) and the vulnerable were not protected sufficiently they pounced on this as proof the whole strategy was misconceived, ignoring the fact the elderly died here, as well as in Spain and France, even with their tough lockdowns👇

6./ The @guardian couldn't miss an opportunity to squeeze a public health crisis through the filter of its woke view of the world, suggesting the Swedish strategy was somehow feeding a "nationalist" narrative. They even dropped the B word. It had echoes of Brexit apparently🤦‍♂️

7./ By the end of May when Sweden briefly had the highest per capita deaths in Europe the Guardian and all the British media were reading the last rites on the strategy, convinced the Swedes had made an almighty mistake, & dredging up ex-officials to skewer it.👇

8./ But here we are now with fewer cases in Sweden than almost anywhere else. No second wave, despite most schools, bars, restaurants, and business staying open, protecting incomes. Instead doubts are emerging about models that led to our lockdown. 👇cityam.com/its-time-epide…

9./ So what does this prove? When it comes to the media and science the problem we have isn't herd immunity, which may or may not turn out to be a crucial asset in re-opening society but a lazy media herd instinct that drives a rush to judgement based on little or no evidence.