This November, however, an initial purchase will be made to facilitate 5,000 tests a day. Prioritised are hospitals, according to the directorate’s head Dr Jean-Claude Schmit.
There is also dialogue with care homes, where rapid tests could be useful for both residents and visitors. Schools are not included for now.
The ministry notes that these rapid tests must still be performed by a medical professional, so not at home.
Rapid tests require a nasal swab, and within 15-30 minutes the result are known, similar in the style of a pregnancy test. They are, however, less thorough than a PCR test. This risks not catching positive cases, or concluding a positive case despite the individual not having covid-19.
Even with a negative rapid test result the social distancing measures should be maintained at all times, says Dr Jean-Claude Schmit, head of the National Health Directorate.
Video report in Luxembourgish:
