It is on behalf of the National Board of Health and Welfare that the Swedish Armed Forces now sent masks they had in stock to, among others, Region Sörmland. But at this time they may not be used.

"It is not certain that they will be needed," says Fredrik Gustavsson, press officer at Region Sörmland.

Developed by the defense

Protective mask 90 was developed by the defense, but was also distributed in the 1990s to police, emergency services and ambulance operations throughout the country. In 2018, however, all use outside the defense and police was prohibited by the Swedish Work Environment Authority.

Since Protective Mask 90 was developed before Sweden's EU entry, it does not have the so-called CE marking. However, it is considered equivalent by, or better than, comparable approved masks by the Swedish Agency for Social Protection and Preparedness.

However, the Swedish Work Environment Authority has announced that it will allow the use of the mask until the end of December 2020 as a result of the corona crisis.

Clip: Protective mask 90 - so it works

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The rescue service in Vimmerby has been granted a six-month exemption from the Swedish Work Environment Authority to use protective mask 90. ​​Photo: Ellen Jöhnnson / SVT