- So far, there is a fairly small outbreak in the unit, compared to what it looks like in the rest of society, says Fredrik Malmerfeldt, operations manager for defense health at Visby garrison.
The test capacity on Gotland is already strained, as in many other regions in Sweden.
Last week, 1,001 cases were confirmed on the island, which can be compared with about 7,000 cases in total during the entire pandemic.
- When we get more people here in our organization, we feel that it is time to take responsibility and activate our own capacity, so that we do not burden the region, says Malmerfeldt.
Difficult with distance
The Swedish Armed Forces' own testing also enables faster test results.
- If we have been infected in different clusters, we want to isolate them as soon as possible, he says.
Several units from different parts of Sweden are participating in the operation on Gotland.
They live housed in temporary premises, including on rural farms around the island.
Keeping distance in a combat vehicle is difficult.
- You want to make sure you do your part and contribute what you can contribute.
And then it is important to be careful and not get sick, says Alice Mårtensson, logistics soldier from Göta congestion regiment, T2, in Skövde.
Isolated in bubbles
Her task is to ensure that the units that operate on Gotland receive the support they need to solve their tasks in the terrain.
It's about delivering everything from fuel and ammunition to water and food.
- We only work close to our own company, we work closely together and isolated from others, so that we become our own bubble, says Alice Mårtensson.