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11 Dec 2020 10:12
11 December 2020
J D WETHERSPOON PLC
NEWS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE USE
Pub company Wetherspoon says that the results of Sweden's COVID-19 policies have been widely misunderstood.
Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin said:
"Whatever way you look at the numbers, Sweden's no-lockdown strategy is working better than the UK's approach.
"According to the respected Worldometer website, Sweden had 1,330 Covid-19 fatalities from 1 November to 9 December, 2020.
"The UK had 16,011 fatalities during the same period. Adjusting for population, the Swedish fatality rate is just over half that of the UK during this period (see appendix 1).
"In the last week of the period, to 9 December, the average fatality rate per day was 19 for Sweden and 410 for the UK. Adjusting for population, the Swedish fatality rate was less than a third of the UK's (appendix 1).
"Although Sweden has had a better outcome, a Daily Mail headline (7 December) said that a "Lockdown finally looms for Sweden....". The Swedish Prime Minister has specifically said that this is not true.
"The Daily Mail article also said that "Sweden's overall death rate is no worse than in other major countries of Western Europe, such as Britain and France."
"This is misleading, since the Swedish outcome is evidently far better than Britain's.
"Also, the news agency Reuters inaccurately reported (2 December) that "Sweden registered 174 deaths" that day.
"In contrast, Worldometer records only 33 deaths for that day (highlighted in red appendix 1).
"The misleading Reuters' statistics were nonetheless reported as if they were true by both The Daily Telegraph and the Times, among other publications.
"In fact, Sweden's annual all-cause mortality rate in 2020 is in line with the last five years, adjusted for population growth- although the 2019 mortality rate, as has been widely reported, was unusually low (appendix 2).
"The Swedish outcome is not surprising, since medical studies have long established that lockdowns don't work.
"As Dr David Nabarro, of the World Health Organisation, recently said, "We appeal to all world leaders to stop using lockdowns as your primary method of control" as they "have just one consequence that you must never belittle and that is making poor people an awful lot poorer."
"The government and SAGE have tried to marginalise Sweden, because it makes their ruinously expensive lockdown policies look absurd.
"Indeed, over 600,000 jobs have already been lost in the hospitality sector alone- with many more set to be lost in the coming months.
"It is not clear is why so many media organisations appear to support the government, by misreporting Sweden's position."
Appendix 1
Source: Worldometer
Daily new deaths, Sweden and UK, circa 4pm December 10.
Sweden | UK | |
09-Dec | 4 | 533 |
08-Dec | 14 | 616 |
07-Dec | 7 | 172 |
06-Dec | 36 | 231 |
05-Dec | 14 | 397 |
04-Dec | 26 | 504 |
03-Dec | 29 | 414 |
02-Dec | 33 | 648 |
01-Dec | 32 | 603 |
30-Nov | 47 | 205 |
29-Nov | 38 | 213 |
28-Nov | 35 | 479 |
27-Nov | 43 | 521 |
26-Nov | 53 | 497 |
25-Nov | 66 | 696 |
24-Nov | 67 | 607 |
23-Nov | 54 | 206 |
22-Nov | 56 | 398 |
21-Nov | 50 | 341 |
20-Nov | 44 | 510 |
19-Nov | 45 | 501 |
18-Nov | 50 | 529 |
17-Nov | 40 | 598 |
16-Nov | 37 | 213 |
15-Nov | 39 | 168 |
14-Nov | 37 | 462 |
13-Nov | 32 | 376 |
12-Nov | 28 | 563 |
11-Nov | 27 | 595 |
10-Nov | 35 | 532 |
09-Nov | 35 | 194 |
08-Nov | 22 | 156 |
07-Nov | 26 | 413 |
06-Nov | 25 | 355 |
05-Nov | 22 | 378 |
04-Nov | 21 | 492 |
03-Nov | 19 | 397 |
02-Nov | 20 | 136 |
01-Nov | 22 | 162 |
Total | 1,330 | 16,011 |
Since 1 November:
Sweden | UK | |
Daily Average | 34 | 411 |
Population | 10,127,530 | 69,045,834 |
Adj Per Capita | 232 | 411 |
7 Days to 9 December:
Sweden | UK | |
Daily Average | 19 | 410 |
Population | 10,127,530 | 69,045,834 |
Adj per Capita | 127 | 410 |
Appendix 2
Source:
Statista: Deaths
Worldometer: Population
Number of deaths in Sweden from 2015 to 2020.
(Annualising 2020 results in 93,855 deaths.)
Deaths | Population | Rate | |
2015 | 90,907 | 9,764,950 | 0.93% |
2016 | 90,982 | 9,836,007 | 0.92% |
2017 | 91,972 | 9,904,896 | 0.93% |
2018 | 92,185 | 9,971,638 | 0.92% |
2019 | 88,766 | 10,036,379 | 0.88% |
2020 | 93,855 | 10,127,530 | 0.93% |
Ends.
Enquiries:
Eddie Gershon Company spokesman 07956 392234
Notes to editors
1. J D Wetherspoon owns and operates pubs throughout the UK and Ireland. The Company aims to provide customers with good-quality food and drink, served by well-trained and friendly staff, at reasonable prices. The pubs are individually designed, and the Company aims to maintain them in excellent condition.
2. Visit our website: www.jdwetherspoon.com
3. This announcement has been prepared solely to provide additional information to the shareholders of J D Wetherspoon, to meet the requirements of the FCA's Disclosure and Transparency Rules. It should not be relied on by any other party, for any other purposes. Forward-looking statements have been made by the directors in good faith, using information available up until the date on which they approved this statement. Forward-looking statements should be regarded with caution, because of the inherent uncertainties in economic trends and business risks.
4. This announcement contains inside information on J D Wetherspoon plc.
5. The current financial year comprises 52 trading weeks to 25 July 2021.
6. The next trading update is expected to be the Company's trading update on 20 January 2021.
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