Due to increased demand and prolonged waiting periods, new testing centres have been set up to specifically care for those who have been ordered by a medical professional to get tested.
However, despite this a queue was observed in front of the Kirchberg testing centre from the day it opened. Additional test centres are already in preparation.
The new screening centre in Kirchberg has thus been a victim of its own success from day one. On Monday afternoon, about twenty people were waiting in front of the entrance and about thirty inside the centre, which corresponds to half an hour of waiting. Two screening stations are currently operational. Initially, up to 200 PCR tests will be carried out each day.
According to Professor Friedrich Mühlschlegel, Director of the National Health Laboratory (LNS), this was the right strategy to go with as there seems to be a clear need. He explained that the LNS must now decide, whether to open a third screening station, perhaps even a fourth, in order to meet the demand.
The ambition of the LNS, which is in charge of this new centre, is to provide the patient with the result of their test within 24 hours via text message. An extension of the number of testing stations on the premises of the former National Library, as well as the opening of a Covid test centre exclusively reserved for patients with a prescription in Esch are dependent on the evolution of infections and the availability of staff.
However, the LNS director added that it was also important that samples were always distributed among all the testing stations and laboratories in the country.
In addition, it will be necessary to find possibilities to shelter the people who find themselves in queues outside the centre of Kirchberg, so that they don’t have to wait in the cold and rain.
As of next Monday, patients with a prescription for a Covid-19 test from their doctor will have an alternative: a drive-in dedicated to Covid tests will reopen at the Park&Ride in Junglinster. However, it will operate a little differently from the other drive-ins, according to Professor Bernard Weber, director of Laboratoires Réunis. A parking space will be allocated to patients. They will be able to wait there for their turn, before being taken away in a heated container to undergo the sampling.
1,200 samples per day will be taken there, with or without an appointment.
