Information is collected from many sources and then sent to Region Uppsala's infection control unit.
The study is called Crush Covid and takes place in collaboration with Region Uppsala's sampling unit.
An app gives early signs
The analysis is based on, among other things, virus measurements in wastewater, from which calls to the care guide 1177 are made, on corona tests and on data from the mobile app Covid symptom study with close to 200,000 users in Sweden.
There, people tell daily how they feel and have entered their postcode, which gives the app anonymous information about which area they live in.
—What we want to do is detect early signals of increased infection in a local geographical area.
Before it has gone so far that you show up at the hospital for this can make it possible to stop this outbreak through various efforts, says Tove Fall who is a professor of molecular epidemiology at Uppsala University.
The best method to break the infection should be evaluated
When a local covid-19 outbreak is detected, infection tracking can start quickly, mobile test stations are sent there, information campaigns are launched or authorities can implement stricter local infection control rules.
Which of these measures are most effective in breaking the spread of infection must now be evaluated scientifically.
Local outbreaks in clusters are expected this autumn
The Swedish Public Health Agency warns that the corona pandemic will spread during the autumn via local outbreaks in clusters as many are infected at the same time.
Right now, the number of covid patients in the Uppsala Region is increasing rapidly, showing both virus measurement in wastewater and the number admitted to hospital.