Covid-19 testing in Czech retirement homes may be postponed

Most homes for the elderly, disabled and other persons in need will be unable to perform the Covic-19 testing of their staff and clients by Wednesday as they have not yet received the equipment needed to do so, Czech Association of Social Services Providers (APSS) president Jiri Horecky told CTK on Monday. The testing equipment is only being distributed, Horecky said, adding that the APSS would ask the Health Ministry to modify the rules of the regular coronavirus testing and to postpone its start. Under the government decision issued last Wednesday, all retirement homes and other similar social care facilities must test their clients and staff for Covid-19, using faster and cheaper, but less precise antigen tests, and repeat the tests every five days.