In addition to the large-scale testing campaigns of PCR tests and the deployment of mobile testing teams, rapid tests, which can deliver a result in 15 minutes, will now also be available to schools.
The rapid tests can be carried out by children as young as six years old.
The Ministry will launch a pilot phase on 24 March which will last until 2 April. The goal is to analyse the process and detect potential technical, organisational, or psychological problems.
9,000 of the antigen tests will be made available during this pilot phase.
They will be distributed to six schools: four primary schools (Luxembourg City/Beggen, Esch-sur-Alzette/Lallange, Sanem/Scheierhaff, Dudelange/Lenkeschléi), and two secondary schools (Atert Lycée in Redange and Lycée Hubert Clément in Esch-sur-Alzette).
Every student in one of the participating classes will be able to test themselves. In the primary schools, only children in cycles two to four can test themselves in their classrooms, while children in cycle one will receive a test to take home. The Ministry is calling on parents of underage students to give their consent to the campaign.
After the Easter Holidays, rapid tests are to be used more systematically, depending on the results of the pilot phase.
