[The virtual ward - the students' clinical education during the current pandemic]

On March 17, 2020, the Swedish Government recommended all higher education institutions to move to online and distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The integrated course in Infection, Microbiology, and Immunity at the Programme in Medicine at University of Gothenburg had to be completely transformed. Creative solutions have now replaced the clinical training that normally takes place during the students' clinical education at the hospital. We developed a digital concept entitled "the virtual ward", in which we interact with the students in real time. Here, the students are able to follow their patients on a daily basis during teacher-guided sessions.