Swedish corona researcher quits after receiving hate messages and threats: “Frightening”

Ole Petter OttersenPhoto: Terje Bendiksby / NTB

Professor Jonas F. Ludvigsson at Karolinska Institutet (KI) in Stockholm will stop researching COVID-19 after receiving a number of threats.

“A frightening and completely unacceptable development,” KI’s Norwegian rector Ole Petter Ottersen wrote in a blog post.

Ludvigsson, who is also a pediatrician at Örebro University Hospital, has received hate messages and threats for his research, including a study that showed that primary school teachers are less likely to become seriously ill with coronavirus than other adults.

“Health and well-being come first. When you are awake at night and in the morning, and can’t sleep, it is not worth it,” Ludvigsson told SVT.

Multiple threats

Ludvigsson has previously reported several threats to the police. Minister of Research Matilda Ernkrans says what has happened is “sad and deeply serious.” 

She believes the case is extra serious as it is directed at someone who is researching COVID-19.

“This is so serious that all of us who protect free research, academic freedom, and fundamental democratic freedoms and rights should react… and strongly condemn such actions,” Ottersen added.

Source: © NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today / #NorwayTodayNews

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