Stockholm healthcare app crashes under high pressure for free coronavirus tests
The region of Stockholm offered all residents the opportunity to book free coronavirus tests from Monday, but huge interest in both diagnostic and antibody tests caused the app to crash.
The app, called 'Always Open', had crashed even before 9am when booking for the tests was intended to begin.
Stockholm announced last week that everyone in the region would be able to book a test for free, but warned that demand was likely to be high so there might be a wait. Region Stockholm said it would release new booking slots each week, and warned "many residents will have to wait a bit before they can have their test".
On Monday morning, many who tried to log into the app were met by the message 'There is currently a problem connecting to the server'. One hour after the booking should have first become available, at 10am, 1177 was still warning "It is currently not possible to use the app Always Open, troubleshooting is ongoing".
The error message that met app users. Photo: TT
People who need medical care, or who work in the healthcare sector or another socially important function (such as police officers and emergency responders) will be prioritised for testing.
Sweden's testing rate is well below both the level of neighbouring countries and its own goal of carrying out 100,000 weekly tests by mid-May.
The government in early June announced a major overhaul of testing, giving regions nearly 6 billion kronor to extend coronavirus tests, and the Public Health Agency's general director said regions should aim to be offering tests to anyone with symptoms by June 13th, when restrictions on domestic travel were lifted.
The tests are available both to people with symptoms who want to find out if they currently have the coronavirus, and those who think they may have had it already, who can find out if their bodies have developed the antibody.
-
CALENDAR: These are the key dates to be aware of for changes in Sweden's coronavirus rules
-
Ten coronavirus rules you still have to (or should) follow in Sweden
Swedish vocabulary
antibody – (en) antikropp
to crash (only about technology) – att krasha
to book an appointment – att boka tid
symptom – (ett) symtom/symptom
neighbouring country – (ett) grannland
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The app, called 'Always Open', had crashed even before 9am when booking for the tests was intended to begin.
Stockholm announced last week that everyone in the region would be able to book a test for free, but warned that demand was likely to be high so there might be a wait. Region Stockholm said it would release new booking slots each week, and warned "many residents will have to wait a bit before they can have their test".
On Monday morning, many who tried to log into the app were met by the message 'There is currently a problem connecting to the server'. One hour after the booking should have first become available, at 10am, 1177 was still warning "It is currently not possible to use the app Always Open, troubleshooting is ongoing".
The error message that met app users. Photo: TT
People who need medical care, or who work in the healthcare sector or another socially important function (such as police officers and emergency responders) will be prioritised for testing.
Sweden's testing rate is well below both the level of neighbouring countries and its own goal of carrying out 100,000 weekly tests by mid-May.
The government in early June announced a major overhaul of testing, giving regions nearly 6 billion kronor to extend coronavirus tests, and the Public Health Agency's general director said regions should aim to be offering tests to anyone with symptoms by June 13th, when restrictions on domestic travel were lifted.
The tests are available both to people with symptoms who want to find out if they currently have the coronavirus, and those who think they may have had it already, who can find out if their bodies have developed the antibody.
-
CALENDAR: These are the key dates to be aware of for changes in Sweden's coronavirus rules
- Ten coronavirus rules you still have to (or should) follow in Sweden
Swedish vocabulary
antibody – (en) antikropp
to crash (only about technology) – att krasha
to book an appointment – att boka tid
symptom – (ett) symtom/symptom
neighbouring country – (ett) grannland
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