Testing and tracing infections are important tools for mitigating the effects of a pandemic, the authorities themselves have emphasized.
It is also the regions' responsibility according to the Infection Control Act.
But there was a lack of both a plan and human resources for the infection tracing work in Västernorrland.
- There was no staff, no template and no journal.
But the traces of infection themselves have done a fantastic job, she says.
Several challenges
The staff who would work with infection tracing would have medical training, but that staff was needed in the care.
- I tried to look among pensioners and pregnant women who could not be in care.
They have been very helpful.
It was in July 2020 that a central infection tracking function was started.
The workforce varied, from four to about 20 tracers.
Up to five days delay
It could take between one and five days to start infection tracking after a positive test result.
The long response time arose in December 2020.
- It fluctuated a lot and sometimes there was such a large amount of infection that we did not have time to contact everyone.