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For the first time since February 6, the Swedish royal couple made several official visits to Stockholm on Monday. All followed in the footsteps of the crown crisis, the initiative for them came from the king himself.
– We want to see with our own eyes the efforts made by various actors, he tells DN when the royal couple arrive at the Medical Classroom of the Karolinska Institutet, in Nobelsväg in Solna on Monday morning.
It is desirable empty of people. Few outside the initiated circle are familiar with the specially designed program, to avoid the risks of further spread of the infection.
Yesterday, Monday, King Carlos XVI Gustavo and Queen Silvia began the first visit in reality since the crown crisis. Among other things, they visited Hasselbacken to discuss how hard the pandemic has affected the tourism and hospitality industry in Stockholm.
Photo: Paul Hansen
The day began with a presentation on corona research conducted at the Karolinska Institutet.
– For us, it is important to know as many facts as possible about what is happening, but also about what has happened. We live in an age that has been surprising in so many ways, we all need to learn from it, says the king who basically lived in quarantine with Queen Silvia at the Stenhammar estate outside Flen since February.
From there, they have worked by phone and video link, and have not met the grandchildren, since the royal couple belongs to the 70+ risk group.
– A friendly neighbor has bought for us. Otherwise we have been careful and we have tried to be careful, said the queen.
KI Chancellor Ole Petter Ottersen He is very happy with the interest of the royal couple in the almost 200 different research projects that are being carried out around covid-19.
– We are as proud as we are humbled by what we face. There is still a lot of news and we know we are dealing with an insidious virus, says the director.
When Lars I Eriksson, professor and chief physician of anesthesia, recounted how, since mid-March, they had organized into various expert groups to develop guidelines for intensive care treatment delivered as quickly as possible, yes, then the king sharpened the ear.
– Excuse me, can we cancel? he asks the king and asks the chief doctor to endorse the tape because he wants a more detailed review of the graphics displayed on a screen.
In a circle and at a suitable distance, the royal couple were able to meet several employees from the health sector. Among other things, Specialist Dr Emma Hasselgren and IVA Nurse Camilla Ssmedberg spoke about difficult conditions, but also about a rare team spirit.
Photo: Paul Hansen
Both the king how the queen is soon engaged and cultured.
– Is there something I’ve been thinking about, if you didn’t do it long before you guessed your first vat patient and could prepare for the fact that there could be great efforts for care? says the king.
Of course, they had a lot of information from abroad, but at the same time it was difficult to predict what would happen, learn.
– We have never seen anything like this, that’s right, says Lars I Eriksson and explains that 70 percent of the patients who were treated intensively at Karolinska University Hospital in March and April survived. In Lombardy in Italy, the worst hit, 39 percent of Community University Hospital patients survived, by comparison.
– Through intense teamwork, we quickly reached the conclusion of introducing an anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory treatment. We also adapt intensive care and respirator treatment. Today, 85 percent of the few remaining IVA patients survive, says Lars I Eriksson.
The royal couple had a good idea of how the complicated logistical work was carried out to ensure, among other things, the availability of protective equipment. The work environment specialists explained that all protection equipment had a quality guarantee.
Photo: Paul Hansen
The queen is a lot interested in vaccine and antibody discussions and wondering how long they “last”. Professor Gunilla Karlsson Hedestam reports that even detectable antibodies should fade, but that the body’s immune memory remains and the general answer is that if antibodies have been detected, it does not become infected.
A block away, on the other side of Solnavägen, the Karolinska University Hospital receives in the room that became a “Command Center” during the crisis. Here, the forces of the region gathered, mainly to obtain enough protection material and VAT sites.
– I realize that it was a very pressured situation. The region may have started a bit late, but it is obvious that they managed to establish a collaboration that made everything work well under the circumstances. It is impressive, says the king afterwards.
What few know is that truck maker Scania came to play a key role when it brought its expertise in global logistics. Protective material stocks were established in both China and Arlanda, thanks to Scania and logistics company Coor. A total of 75 million packages were handled, 90,000 different donations were attended and 4,500 tips from individuals and companies were reviewed. Other companies such as H&M, SAS and Ikea also contributed.
– The protective aprons that were donated by Ikea – you had to build them yourself or, the king jokes.
At the Karolinska University Hospital Command Center, the royal couple received a gift that included, among other things, respiratory masks and mouth guards. “If I use them, I will break the Public Health Agency rules,” Queen Silvia joked, thanking COO Sara Lindholm Larsson so much for the gift.
Photo: Paul Hansen
Here Queen Silvia wants talk about wearing mouth guards:
– I think many want to know why we are not recommended to use them, because there are demands on them in many other countries, he says.
The Queen receives the answer that we have heard so many times now – that the assessment of the Public Health Agency is that they do not provide enough protection, quite the opposite, because it is difficult to use them in the correct way.
It makes the king shake his head slightly and express something that most people recognize.
– I don’t think it seems like anyone can explain that so that you really understand it, he says.
In a large circle, the royal couple meet the medical staff of several different intensive care clinics. The conversation is about 12.5-hour work shifts, hard work and stress, but also little-seen teamwork that has created a sense of pride.
– I really hope you have received the praise you deserve for your admirable efforts. And I also hope – get me wrong correctly – that we will not see each other again, says the king when it is time to say goodbye.
The rector of the Swedish National Defense College, Robert Egnell, welcomed the royal couple and was proud to say that throughout the pandemic, they supported the crisis management of government offices with expertise.
Photo: Paul Hansen
After that, the royal couple goes on to The Swedish National Defense College, where they can participate in ongoing research on what is now called “progressive crises”. It turns out that the king knows the expression well. Professor Magnus Ekengren states that in today’s enlightened world, we often have a fairly clear picture of what is happening; however, there will be crisis and chaos when the challenges become concrete.
– The authorities have a tendency to act late, we are investigating the mechanisms that make it possible to really get going in the end, says Ekengren, who is appreciated by the royal couple.
The rest of the afternoon was devoted to the economic crisis that affected the tourism and hospitality industry in Stockholm. At Hasselbacken, among others, businessman Björn Ulvaeus and Jonas Abrahamsson, CEO of Swedavia, receive and here it becomes clear that the red numbers have created a Christian mindset that has led to creativity and faith in the future.
After an intense day, the royal couple are happy with what they have seen and known.
– Everyone we have met has shown their commitment and competence. I think we should look to the future with confidence. And I hope that eventually we will return to a normal situation. In the best of cases, it will already be spring, says the king and goes home.
Read more:
The Queen: “I have never felt so much as during the 70-plus-year pandemic”
The King: “The will to help is the greatest asset”
King Carl XXI Gustaf: “We must live differently”
