The county administrative boards' new progress report to the government states that coordination of protective equipment between the state, regions and municipalities has not yet begun. This is despite the fact that the government has now decided how coordination should take place.

At the same time, several counties report heavy effects on business, including the risk of increased mental ill-health among entrepreneurs. There are also signs of increased impact on food supply and drug availability.

Great concern in the regions

The regional reports clearly show how the crisis is spreading across the country. Covid-19 is now available on elderly homes in 15 of Sweden's 21 counties. In both Dalarna and Örebro counties, entire sections of elderly homes have been converted to covid-19 departments.

In Blekinge, agricultural producers are worried that foreign guest workers will not be able to work with the harvest. In Halland, a municipality is investigating the possibility of advancing the vaccination program in school health care in order to be able to redistribute school nurses to elderly care. In Värmland, private assistance companies have handed over responsibilities to a municipality because they can no longer staff their operations.

Own manufacture of mouthguards

At the same time, the County Administrative Board reports on several measures that are in progress or planned. Several county boards are already conducting compilations of the municipalities' needs for protective equipment. They have contact with local producers who adjust their production to meet the need.

Kronoberg has received a "very good response" to a dispatch asking for protective equipment from 400 companies in the county, they write. In Norrbotten they have started their own production of mouthguards, visors and hand spirit. And the Dalarna has increased the capacity of the mortuary through refrigerated containers located in Falun, Borlänge, Mora, Avesta and Ludvika.