In a phone interview with RTL, Claude Meisch confirmed Sunday that over 6,000 pupils and 1,500 teachers could be tested for the virus on a voluntary basis from next week.
The Luxembourg Institute of Health received the green light from the government on Friday to proceed with a nationwide research project to ascertain how far the virus had spread across the Grand Duchy. Among the topics discussed was the issue of safety within schools and whether pupils in primary and secondary education could be tested for the virus, in order to guarantee the safest possible reopening.
The Minister of Education said schools were expected to reopen from 4 May as planned, so long as virus infections remained on their current trajectory. The plan would be revised should the situation change. Currently, the government believes the virus is under control and is taking decisions accordingly, said Meisch.
The research project will be led by researchers from the Luxembourg Institute of Health and has a budget of €40 million. With additional drive-in testing available in 17 places around the country, testing capacity currently allows for around 20,000 tests per day.
