The statistics include all those who have been cared for in inpatient care, both those who have not been cared for in the intensive care unit and those who have done so. Patients who have been discharged may also have had continued care at home or been discharged to special accommodation for the elderly.

Could not breathe

One of those who was discharged after being hospitalized for covid-19 care is Stefan Eriksson. 

- As soon as I went to the toilet and came back, it was as if I had won the Stockholm marathon. I just lay there looking for air, in the end I did not have the strength so then it was 112 that mattered, he says. 

During the four days Stefan was in hospital care, he received oxygen help to be able to breathe, today he has returned to everyday life and work.  

- I're largely recovered. What is today is that you have a worse condition, there are several that I know who have had corona who say that what they lack a long time after is the condition.

Prolonged symptoms

According to Soo Aleman, chief physician and section manager at the infection clinic at Karolinska University Hospital, however, long-term symptoms can persist even after being discharged from hospital care or declared healthy. 

- It is the virus that has started processes that continue, not that you are contagious. I think it is very important to distinguish that you are not contagious but still have problems with the virus that has been gone for a long time, he says.