[ad_1]
Published:
Håkan, 59, belongs to four risk groups and has not dared to go to work in a nursing home since March.
With debts of SEK 100,000 and no money for infection control, he is now forced to go back to work.
– If the crown hits my claws, it won’t come out right, he says.
On March 13, the WHO classified the new coronavirus as a global pandemic. In Stockholm, corona cases continued to rise and the first deaths were reported. At the same time, cases began to be discovered in the nursing home where Håkan Hammarström worked.
– I knew for myself that I belonged to four risk groups and we began to receive cases of infected elderly and staff. Several of them happened quite badly, says Håkan.
With asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity identified early as risk factors, her doctor and manager advised her to stay home.
He took a bank loan of 100,000 SEK
He didn’t dare risk it. He said goodbye and at the end of March he went home from work. Health was the most important thing: the economy had to be solved.
– I took out a bank loan of 100,000 SEK to make it work.
Håkan followed the government’s advice for at-risk groups: stay home.
– I ordered food online and had them taken home and avoided public transport if I needed to go out.
Waiting for information on infection control money was delayed. But at the end of August, he and others in the risk group could apply for compensation from the risk groups from the Swedish Social Security Agency. But he cannot count on any money, the authority has announced.
Photo: Private
Håkan, 59, obtained a bank loan of 100,000 SEK.
Risk group not included
Håkan is not included in the risk groups defined by the National Board of Health and Welfare and on which the Swedish Social Security Agency bases its assessment. Diabetics must have organ system complications, overweight people must have a BMI of 40, high blood pressure is considered another risk group, and asthma is not included.
But drawing the line that way is wrong, says Håkan. Every morning she takes medicine to clear her windpipe of mucus and her diabetes travels. A BMI of 30, which Håkan has, has been identified as a serious risk factor according to a study published in June.
– They have not thought that there are people like me who have many risk groups, that makes one more sensitive. If covid-19 claws into me, I’m pretty sure it’s not going well.
Photo: Private
Håkan now works more than full time to pay off his loan, even though he belongs to four risk groups.
Work more than full time
Now Håkan’s leave has ended and he is back on his night shift at the Vasastan nursing home. In more than full time to pay off your loan.
– I have a visor and other protection and I try to keep my distance as best I can. Now we do not have any cases here and it is well managed, but it is a sanitary work and the infection may reappear.
– In October, family members can re-enter.
Håkan believes that there are many more than him in the same situation now, who went home early because they thought they were part of a risk group based on what they knew about the coronavirus.
– I feel a bit that I only obeyed orders, risk groups were told to stay at home. By doing so, I have taken responsibility for myself and my workplace.
Published:
