Already at the beginning of the corona pandemic, testing quickly became a major issue.
The World Health Organization, WHO, was also clear that it was the main weapon in the fight against the virus.
But despite a clear message, there were big differences around the country.
It shows a compilation of the number tested per 100,000 inhabitants that SVT's local news has done together with Assignment review.
At the top is Region Västerbotten, closely followed by Region Jämtland Härjedalen.
They clearly tested the most.
In terms of population, for example, Region Jämtland Härjedalen tested more than twice as many compared to Region Östergötland, which is at the bottom.
First with a sampling ambulance
SVT has met several people who work at Östersund Hospital and who were involved in the work.
And all describe how the region quickly scaled up and took action.
Among other things, the region was the first in the country with a sampling ambulance.
- It went across the county for sampling first.
Then gradually we also took in patients with it, says Friedrich Molde who is chief physician at the infection clinic.
Covid samples were analyzed in a chlamydia machine
The microbiological lab was also on its toes.
Here, for example, a chlamydia machine became an important piece of the puzzle.
- In that machine, we normally run 100 chlamydia samples a week, says Peter Drobni who is a molecular biologist.
But at the beginning of March 2020, they also started doing covid analyzes in the machine.
- When we peaked, we ran 300 samples per day, he says.
What was it like working during this period?
- It was extremely hard but personally it has been the most fun time I have had at my job.
You feel that you are doing something useful.