1) As Sweden is hit hard by #COVID19, there is increasing focus on conservative local government in Stockholm -- Sweden's virus epicenter -- and how privatization of elderly care sector laid the groundwork for the disastrous impact on the elderly in Sweden. Some key points.

2) Stockholm local govt is conservative-led coalition, w/right-wing Christian Democrats responsible for elderly care. In 2018, they pushed for "efficiency," cut resources & eliminated requirement that staff be full-time. Result? More cheaper, part-time staff hired. That's big.

3) Part-time staff cheap. But, also less experienced; less job security; less likely to complain over no protective clothing or working conditions. As they are not full-time and salaries low, don't qualify for sick pay if ill, and can't afford to miss work if sick, anyway.

4) When the Christian Democrats were in opposition from 2014-18, they opposed a Left Party proposal that elderly care staff be given work clothes and places to get changed. That, the right argued, was micro-managing, and that "owners know best" how to organize their businesses.

5) Now, in Stockholm, many workers for these privately-run care companies (via unions) have complained that they have not been given proper protective clothing/masks. When a union won a recent case to give staff face-masks and visors, the City of Stockholm appealed the decision.

6) What's clear is that what passed for "efficiency" in private elderly care in Stockholm was cost-cutting that had a disastrous effect. Half of deaths in Stockholm (and 1/3 in Sweden) have been in care homes. Yet more proof that "the market" simply won't act unless forced.

7) (Just a note here that the case of staff not being provided with protective clothing that I mentioned above, where the City of Stockholm is appealing against the demand they provide protective gears, was in relation to a city-run care facility.)

8) Finally, privatized elderly care in Stockholm another argument for why local context/politics important when looking at #COVID19 on country-by-country basis, as well as at political economy of care industry. People might assume care in Sweden is 100% publicly owned. It isn't.

9) Sorry...a final "Final" point that is super-important. Can't overstate this enough. You force workers to take low pay in shit conditions, people who can't miss work, have to take public transport to work, then blame them. https://twitter.com/i/status/1254415229611651072