There was definitely less traffic due to the pandemic, but for the ambulance staff in Linköping, maybe other things were actually noticed more.

- I may not feel that there was a huge difference in accessibility, says Ulrika Watz, who has worked with ambulance care for over 30 years.

On the other hand, I think there was a difference in that there was absolutely no such traffic intensity (as normal, editor's note).

Out on the highway, it is usually not a problem for ambulances to get there.

Above all, less traffic was noticed inside the city at the times when people normally get to and from work.

Fewer traffic accidents

Even though it was special to work during the pandemic, there were actually fewer assignments for the ambulances in Linköping.

Less traffic resulted in fewer traffic accidents and some patients also refrained from calling the ambulance.

A very common alarm under normal circumstances is a patient complaining of chest pain.

- We did not have that at all.

They almost disappeared, says Ulrika Watz.

Instead, it was infection symptoms that dominated.

It also happened that patients preferred not to go to hospital for fear of being infected with corona there.