COVID-19 strategy darkens Sweden’s image in the Nordics

• • A negative image of Sweden is growing in the Nordic countries, according to a survey by the Swedish Institute.
  • Around 4 out of 10 respondents had a worse image of Sweden in the past year, and the coronavirus strategy is a big reason.
  • “The Nordic countries are like a family, and sometimes you can see tension in the family ,” says Madeleine Sjöstedt at the Swedish Institute.

Related stories from around the North:

Canada: Arctic Tourism & the Pandemic podcast, Eye on the Arctic

Finland: Traffic, mobile data show Lapland travellers not deterred by worsening COVID situation in Finland, Yle News

Denmark/Greenland: Greenland authorities buoyed by high demand for COVID-19 vaccine, Eye on the Arctic

Iceland: Iceland relaxes some COVID-19 restrictions as downward infection trend holds, Eye on the Arctic

Norway: Norway extends border closure with Finland due to pandemic, The Independent Barents Observer

Russia: Norway closes borders over fears of virus, but exempts Russian fishermen from severely infected border region, The Independent Barents Observer

Sweden: Swedes caught in Norway border limbo, Radio Sweden

United States: Alaska politicians send Trudeau letter saying they’re “shocked” over Canada’s COVID-19 cruise ship ban, Eye on the Arctic