Greece will launch an online platform to allow citizens register for “randomized coronavirus testing in the community,” professor for infectious diseases Gkikas Majorkinis announced at the pandemic live briefing on Friday evening.
The platform will go online on Monday night, December 21, 2020.
Majorkinis said that the tool will allow health authorities “get a better epidemiological picture on the virus’ dispersion.”
Currently, the strategy for free testing includes all patients whose symptoms match those of Covid-19, especially those of hospital and health center staff, and vulnerable group.
The platform will help expand the sample testing to the wider public.
“With the arrival of reliable and fast antibodies tests, we are now adding to our strategy random, free, spot checks throughout Greece, the target being to have 12,000 random tests done per day,” he said.
This is hoped to break the chain of the virus’ dispersal by improving preventative measures ahead of time, he said.
Citizens will be able to register on the platform and express their interest on becoming part of the first 12,000 to sign up for tests at 386 control points nationally.
“The first group of 12,000 citizens will be notified on Saturday, December 26, to appear on the nearest test-taking facility, starting on Monday, December 28,” he said, encouraging people to sign up.
The platform is: testing.gov.gr
The citizen will have to register name, surname, profession, Tax number (AFM), Postal Code and mobile phone, where a registration confirmation will be received. If the citizen is chosen, a new sms will inform him where and when the testing will take place.
Testing will justify a 3-hour leave from work and after the procedure is concluded the personal data will be deleted, Majiorkinis said.
The test is free of charge.
