Sweden, Norway lift COVID restrictions trigger backlash as experts want to end warrants
Sweden, Norway and Denmark’s decision to lift COVID-related restrictions has sparked mixed reactions on social media amid campaign to end vaccination and mask mandates in the United States
The decision to remove COVID-related restrictions in all three countries has sparked criticism of the measures in the United States as some Republicans continue to push back warrants in hopes of achieving similar results.
“I think America’s litigious culture is extremely problematic,” Twitter user Anthony LaMesa said. wrote.
“These countries understand that learning to live with Covid means no longer obsessing over the number of cases and introducing programs that are an obscene waste of taxpayer money with no obvious public health benefit,” said another. . tweeted.
On Tuesday, Republican Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma introduced the Vaccine Stop Warrants Act in an attempt to revoke President Joe Biden’s order requiring vaccination against COVID.
“President Biden’s executive order has exceeded his power excessively. Every American should be able to make the decisions that are best for him and his family,” he said in the statement attached to the bill he has. filed. “No American should have to choose between their conscience, their health and their work.”
Lankford also joined other Republican senators, including Ted Cruz of Texas, Tommy Tuberville of Alabama and Roger Marshall of Kansas, in last month’s presentation of the COVID-19 Vaccine Dishon Discharge Prevention Act. The bill prohibits the Department of Defense from issuing a dishonorable discharge to servicemen who choose not to be vaccinated.
Meanwhile, another Republican, Senator Mike Lee of Utah, said Thursday that he “just doesn’t think the federal government should impose the COVID-19 vaccine on all Americans,” despite its benefits.
Echoing Lee’s views, Republican Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin said the way some governments and companies have responded to the pandemic “just doesn’t make sense.”
In an editorial for The Washington Times Johnson said: “The advent of vaccination mandates is exacerbating social divisions and will only increase the damage from the pandemic.”
“The gods of COVID-19 – federal agencies, mainstream media, and social media – tell us over and over again that they alone represent science, and any other interpretation of the data or opinion qualifies as dangerous misinformation.” , did he declare. “This attitude contradicts what we have generally been told about any serious medical diagnosis: ‘Always try to get a second or even a third opinion.'”
Sweden was the latest to join the list of countries removing COVID-related restrictions. The country lifted its remaining pandemic restrictions on Wednesday, including capacity limits at rallies and events, according to Euronews. The recommendations to work from home have also been removed.
Meanwhile, Norway on Saturday began to transition to “normal daily life” but with increased emergency preparedness, the Norwegian government said. The country has lifted all of its national restrictions except to force people to self-quarantine in case they show symptoms of COVID.
“We no longer need to keep our distance. We can spend time with people like we did before,” said Erna Solberg, Norwegian Prime Minister. “We are removing restrictions on the number of people who can attend events together. Drinks no longer need to be served at the table and admission after midnight is no longer prohibited.”
Additionally, Denmark became one of the first countries in the European Union to revoke its COVID restrictions on September 10, including the requirement to show proof of COVID vaccination to enter entertainment venues such as nightclubs. . The Danish government cited the country’s high vaccination rate and pandemic control as reasons for its decision.
“But even though we are in a good position right now, we are not out of the pandemic and the government will not hesitate to act quickly if the pandemic threatens important functions of our society again,” the Aug. 27 said on Minister of Health Magnus Heunicke. .