FYI, Sweden's death rate (deaths per population) is less than the U.S., Britain, France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, New York, New Jersey, Florida, Texas, California, Arizona, Georgia, the Dakotas, and Iowa, and many other countries and states.

Language matters. Masks were not “banned”, they we not mandated. Slight difference. They were never mandated from a federal level here either. A stupid decision for both countries in my opinion. I think you should also ask yourself what I’m sure many foreigners ask when they read about the US response to the pandemic: “WHO DO THEY THINK THEY ARE?”

Correction: they were federally mandated on public transport.

Ya Sweden (population 11 million), a rich, northern European country with free healthcare and a strong social safety net and a patchwork of mask requirements varying by city & county has reported 900,138 cases. The Philippines (population 110 million), a poor, SE Asian country with much weaker healthcare system and social safety net but a strong mask mandate has reported 914,971 cases. With roughly 100 million more people than Sweden, the Philippines only have 14,000 more Covid cases. Speaking colloquially, Sweden is "getting hammered."