Östergötland is at the bottom of the Swedish Public Health Agency's statistics on the number of individuals tested per region.

During week 49, 1,676 tests were performed per 100,000 inhabitants, which is the lowest figure in the country.

In the neighboring region of Örebro, the corresponding figure is 4,674.

- The testing in Östergötland has been at too low a level right from the start.

The test capacity should have increased a long time ago, says Marie Morell (M), 2nd vice chairman of the regional board in Östergötland.

Hard to book an appointment

There are many who testify that the testing does not work in Östergötland.

There are no times to book and Region Östergötland has also chosen not to offer self-tests, which many other counties have done.

This leads to frustration for many who can not test themselves.

- I get daily signals from friends and acquaintances that it is not possible to book an appointment for a PCR test, says Marie Morell (M)

Still lowest in Östergötland

The Corona Commission's report points out Östergötland as one of the counties with the lowest testing and the county is still at the lowest level, when it comes to testing per inhabitant.

- Östergötland has taken its own strategy.

We've been talking about this for over a year.

The Regional Board raises this issue during every single meeting.

But I actually do not know what else we can do, says Marie Morell.

Self-tests not reliable

She is also critical of the fact that the region does not consider the self-tests to be of reliable quality when other regions make a completely different assessment.

- How can it be that everyone else in Sweden thinks they are quality assured.

That these tests would not be enough for East Goths?

I have a hard time understanding how it is connected.

Now you have worked with these self-tests for so long, says Marie Morell.

Working on

Throughout Friday, SVT Nyheter Öst has tried to reach Kaisa Karro (S), chairman of the regional board, for a comment.

This is because SVT wants to reflect both leading politicians and the opposition on the issue.

On Friday afternoon, she leaves a written comment.

“The Östergötland region has significantly increased its test capacity in recent weeks and is continuing to work to increase it further.

We intend to return with more details on the issue next week ", she writes.

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