- There is nothing that 100% says that children are not contagious and it is difficult with social distancing in preschool. The staff are worried, some are in the risk group themselves or live with people in the risk group, says Charlotte Henriksson, safety representative at the preschool in question.

She has submitted a so-called 6: 6a petition to her bosses. There she demands that there be mouth guards, visors, protective aprons and protective gloves at the preschool.

Charlotte Henriksson also wants better routines.

- If we are in a work team and someone has to walk away with a child who shows symptoms, who should do it? It can take an hour before the guardian can pick up their child. Should we stand and discuss in the situation who should "sacrifice"? Who should make the prioritization? she wonders.

The bosses say no

However, the municipality does not want to meet the requirement and therefore the Swedish Work Environment Authority must now decide the issue.

- There are no recommendations for protective equipment for preschools or primary schools. I had contact with our medically responsible nurse who in turn had contact with the infection control in the region and it appears that this is not the case, says Anneli Olofsson, head of education in Bergs municipality.

She also believes that children are not big spreaders.

- We can not say that it is one hundred percent, but they say that it is safer than in healthcare or a store. There are no established cases where children have been infected, she says.

Why are you taking the fight over protective equipment - if it would now alleviate staff anxiety?

- If they are to have protective equipment, it is good if it is determined. And if you want protective equipment, you need to be trained in how to use it, because it can mean a greater risk and a false sense of security.

Safety representative Charlotte Henriksson is aware that protective equipment can pose a risk.

- That is why we also request training in how to use it in the right way, she responds.

"Routines exist"

Anneli Olofsson also rejects the demand for better routines in case of suspected infection and believes that this exists.

- There is a routine, but we can not tell which staff should get away with the child. But the staff on duty must act from having a sick child.

Municipalities do different

Safety representative Charlotte Henriksson now hopes that the Swedish Work Environment Authority will follow the staff's line and allow them to use safety equipment.

- I know that other preschools have been heard, but I do not know if more have had to go this far, she says.

Several other municipalities in the county have decided that preschool staff must have protective equipment. One of them is Strömsund, where all the municipality's preschools have two sets of protective equipment according to requirements from the union.