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The agreement between the government and SKR will take effect on January 1 and was unveiled at a digital press conference on Thursday.
– Today, the Swedish Public Health Agency announces that rapid tests in certain situations can be used to test people who do not show symptoms but who may be contagious. This makes it possible to test staff before a work shift, then we get additional protection, says Social Affairs Minister Lena Hallengren (S).
“Sensitive environments”
The state will co-finance the use of antigen tests, also called rapid tests, and the regions will commit to conducting the tests.
Rapid tests can be a good complement to detect a suspicion of infection, for the detection of infections and for the “detection personnel” in health and care.
As an example mention the government in a press release sensitive settings such as nursing homes or emergency rooms for people who have symptoms of COVID-19 but are seeking care for another reason.
– It is useful for testing people with suspected covid-19 in primary care and emergency care, where quick results are especially important, says department head Karin Tegmark Wisell.
Periodic staff review
Guidance from the Public Health Agency on how rapid tests will be used was updated Thursday to now include the selection process.
– This applies to staff who do not experience any symptoms or whose symptoms are so mild that they do not realize they are ill. With regular staff evaluation, you can detect infectious people who are not experiencing symptoms, says Karin Tegmark Wisell.
At the press conference, it was repeated that rapid tests are a complement to PCR tests and can never replace tests or other measures taken to protect both staff and patients.
