When the Covid-19 crisis first broke out, Anders Tegnell was still just an obscure civil servant at the Swedish Public Health Agency, but now he has become the face of the response strategy.

The 64-year-old epidemiologist was praised on the streets, even honored in the form of a tattoo.

`I think of him as a symbol throughout this crisis and to me, he’s standing tall on the front line and doing a pretty good job,` said Gustav Lloyd Agerblad, 32, who got Tegnell’s portrait tattooed

Gustav Lloyd Agerblad tattooed strategist Tegnell on his arm in Stockholm on April 27.

Unlike other countries, Sweden did not impose a strict blockade to prevent Covid-19 but still allowed schools, restaurants and businesses to open.

Tegnell’s proposed strategy does not seek to stop the virus but slow its spread so it does not overwhelm the health system.

Despite some criticism from international policymakers, about three-quarters of Swedes express high or very high confidence in the Public Health Agency, according to a survey from Novus this month.

`I came up with this idea because I believe in our strategy and believe that the authorities cannot force us to stay at home,` tattooist Zashay Rissanen Tastas said as he tattooed Mr. Tegnell’s image on Agerblad’s arm.

Gustav Lloyd Agerblad tattooed strategist Tegnell on his arm in Stockholm on April 27.

More than 2,200 people have died out of a total of nearly 19,000 people infected with nCoV in Sweden, relatively low on a population scale compared to Britain, France and Spain, but higher than two neighboring Nordic countries, Denmark.

The differences between Sweden and its Nordic neighbors have led some scientists in the country to harshly criticize the government and Tegnell himself.

On the streets of Stockholm, as well as in tattoo parlors, passersby mention Tegnell.

`People love him. Absolutely. He’s very famous,` Tove Falck-Olsson said.