It was the night of April 23 when an employee called the call. One resident showed symptoms of covid-19 and now the employee wanted to get hold of the protective equipment that was locked in the accommodation.

But the call didn't show up with the key.

This is stated in a discrepancy report that an employee has written.

"It is totally unacceptable, it must not go that way," says Louise Ressner, work environment coordinator at Municipal.

Instead of unlocking the door, the caller gave directives that the employee would give the tenant an alvedon.

The day after, it was found that the resident had covid-19, according to the deviation report.

Many rooms are empty after covid-19 entered Valltorp's care home. Photo: Leonora Toplica

Protection would be used properly

That the protective equipment was locked in was to ensure that it was used properly, according to Ingrid Bergh, Head of Operations for Health and Care Administration.

- There is a risk that it will be hoarded or handled incorrectly. We have always had good access to protective equipment, but we have been keen to make the best use of the equipment we have.

SVT asks Ingrid Bergh about how she sees the fact that the protective equipment was not available in a sharp position:

- I think that if you didn't have to deal with the tenant at that time, you could distance yourself two meters away, she says.

But another deviation report shows how difficult this can be.

One employee helped a caregiver, who turned out to be covid-infected, with displacement and undress for 20 minutes. A distance of two meters has not been possible to maintain, the employees write: "/.../ it would be impossible for me to carry out my duties then".

Louise Ressner is a health and safety coordinator at Kommunal and is critical of how the City of Helsingborg handled the corona outbreak at Valltorp's care home. Photo: Leonora Toplica

Large collections in April

SVT's review also shows that there were collections with tenants and employees from all departments throughout April.

- We gathered in both the assembly hall and the glass corridor. We were worried, says one source.

The information is confirmed by pictures from Valltorp's Instagram account. Here you can see, among other things, a picture, published April 21, where three people hold each other's hands during a music session.

The following day, April 22, two caregivers were found to be infected by covid-19, according to a press release from the City of Helsingborg.

Was it appropriate to gather this way?

- We saw no risk of infection because we ended our activities after first finding the case. In addition, social isolation is not good for our tenants, says Ingrid Bergh.