It is through a private initiative that Sweden now has the opportunity to purchase a very large load of protective material for medical care from China. Peter Asarnoj, who works with something completely different from medical and medical materials, was contacted by a couple of medical friends a week ago.

- They asked if I, who has a large contact network, could help to procure more protective equipment for the health care, he says. I posted a question on Facebook and started to pull in different threads.

Through his contacts, Peter Asarnoj was told that Sweden could get help from Poland to buy several million protective masks, gloves, plastic aprons, visors and much more from China. Peter then contacted the Swedish authorities. The Minister of Social Affairs was also informed of the possibility.

- All logistics and everything else is arranged and ready for delivery to Sweden already next week, says Peter Asarnoj. Poland has been waiting with its own delivery to allow Sweden to take home the equipment with the same aircraft.

Swedish authorities say no

But despite the fact that health care is screaming for protective equipment, Swedish authorities say no.

"The face masks do not hold the right safety class," the Swedish Board of Health, Johanna Sandwall, tells SVT News. We cannot send out material that could provide false security and may help spread the infection.

The face masks, which are only a small part of this possible delivery from China, are called FFP2. Poland buys 15 million of these masks, but Swedish authorities do not trust them. The masks used in intensive care in Sweden today are called FFP3 and are of a higher protection class.

When asked if there is any better mask with no protective mask than no mask at all, or homemade that healthcare professionals produce themselves, Johanna Sandwall replies that the National Board of Health has not been told by the regions that the situation is so desperate yet.

- I also hear and watch the news that healthcare professionals make their own equipment, but we must follow the rules we have in Sweden, says Johanna Sandwall.

Doctors critical of the procedure

In healthcare, staff find it difficult to understand the authorities' refusal to offer this.

- Now the situation is so desperate that it is important to act, to take home the material now and to check it later, Peter Giesecke, cardiologist at Danderyds hospital.

- We have to improvise all the time and the needs are enormous.