While hard lockdown was avoided in Sweden during Covid-19, 5 years on much reflection has taken place over the pandemic legacy across the world. The US House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic concluded its investigations in 2024, and the UK Covid-19 Inquiry continued into 2025 and 2026. Sweden was also scrutinized by a Coronakommission, its final report appearing in 2022.

The aftermath of Sweden’s pandemic pointed to experience and outcome not so far removed from that of other European countries of comparable size. However, its critics, excited and...