Mitsotakis: Workplace Self-Test Starts Monday

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, speaking at a meeting of the parliamentary group, said that the previously announced self-testing of employees at workplaces will begin on Monday.

“As can be seen from everything, we are now in the last, but also the most sensitive phase of the pandemic. We have three allies and one enemy. On the one hand, we have a vaccine, good weather and a massive testing system, apart from tens of thousands of tests from EODY. We are receiving millions of self-tests for education, and starting Monday they will begin in the workplace. On the other hand, fatigue remains [от мер безопасности]but we cannot afford to ease restrictions and we cannot relax our vigilance, ”Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stressed during his opening speech at a meeting of the New Democracy parliamentary group.

“It is imperative that we continue to take the path we have chosen responsibly, combining the protection of our health with the careful resumption of activities in the economy, in everyday life, in education. That is, so that there are no situations that would force us to retreat, ”he added.

Referring to the self-test, Mr. Mitsotakis noted that it is “an important additional protective weapon alongside others: wearing masks, distancing, personal hygiene.” And he described vaccination as “a serious bridge to the wall of immunity, which is rapidly building up.”

Authorities are looking at citizen self-diagnostics as a possible travel aid during Easter, with rigorous spot checks at toll road points.

With the opening of the tourism and catering industry in the first two weeks of May, self-testing is expected to become a weekly routine until early summer. A similar model will be applied to workers in the field of tourism and catering before the opening of these sectors of the economy. In addition, great hopes are pinned on the early acquisition of herd immunity and vaccination.

As we reported earlier, the government seems satisfied with the implementation of the plan to renew secondary school operations countries after the launch of the self-test…

The number of positive results recorded was very small in relation to the total number of students, teachers and other personnel, as a senior Ministry of Education official said, and it is important that the idea, implemented with a large number of citizens, was crowned with success.

In particular, 613 students and teachers tested positive, while 250,000 electronic applications from teachers and students were completed. “The rationale behind this public health intervention is to identify and isolate both oligosymptomatic and asymptomatic students and teachers in a timely manner to break the chain of transmission and keep schools running safely. and colleagues at the risk of transmitting the virus. This is the great value of the new virus detection tool. And its first implementation is characterized by great success, “said government spokesman Aristotelia Peloni. According to her, in three days, more than 380,000 tests were received, and teachers and students made 250,000 electronic applications.

However, according to words Professor of Pulmonology Theodoros Vasilakopoulos in an interview with the OPEN channel, “In 40% -50% of cases there is a possibility that the test gives false data. Therefore, citizens should not relax, it is necessary to continue to carefully observe the measures and wear a mask. “

At the same time, the specialist believes that with a self-test, “a positive result for coronavirus when using a self test, with a very high probability, will be really positive.” The professor reiterated that the probability of a false negative self-test is 40-50%. “The most reliable of all tests is molecular. At the same time, it is not ideal either, as it gives only a 30% probability of a false result, ”stressed Mr. Vasilakopoulos.

The specialist added that “a negative self-test is likely to be false,” and explained, “It’s not safe. Through self-testing, we will find many of those who are asymptomatic carriers of the infection. We must all continue to be vigilant. If a single effective solution was found that would take into account all the positive and negative aspects, the problem would be nullified all over the world, and the pandemic would end. The Greek government made a very correct decision to do two self-tests, because in this case the risk of inaccurate results will be minimized. However, those who test negative should be careful. ”

In fact, the professor’s information confirms the opinion that such tests are needed by the authorities more for complacency, as well as in order to show the whole world that the situation in Greece is improving, which means that the launch of tourism, scheduled for May 14, will be safe.

However, against the background of the closure of Turkey, this step can bring significant benefits for Greece. But how will it affect the real situation with the pandemic?

“As can be seen from everything, we are now in the last, but also the most sensitive phase of the pandemic. We have three allies and one enemy. On the one hand, we have a vaccine, good weather and a massive testing system, apart from tens of thousands of tests from EODY. We are receiving millions of self-tests for education, and starting Monday they will begin in the workplace. On the other hand, fatigue remains [от мер безопасности]but we cannot afford to ease restrictions and we cannot relax our vigilance, ”said Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis during his opening speech at a meeting of the New Democracy parliamentary group.

The number of positive results recorded was very small in relation to the total number of students, teachers and other personnel, as a senior Ministry of Education official said, and it is important that the idea, implemented with a large number of citizens, was crowned with success.

In particular, 613 students and teachers tested positive, while 250,000 electronic applications from teachers and students were completed. “The rationale for this public health intervention is to identify and isolate both oligosymptomatic and asymptomatic students and teachers in a timely manner to break the chain of transmission and keep schools running safely. and colleagues at the risk of transmitting the virus. This is the great value of the new virus detection tool. And its first implementation is characterized by great success, “said government spokesman Aristotelia Peloni. According to her, in three days, more than 380,000 tests were received, and teachers and students made 250,000 electronic applications.

However, according to words Professor of Pulmonology Theodoros Vasilakopoulos in an interview with OPEN, “In 40% -50% of cases there is a possibility that the test gives false data. Therefore, citizens should not relax, it is necessary to continue to carefully observe measures and wear a mask.

At the same time, the specialist believes that with a self-test, “a positive result for coronavirus when using a self test, with a very high probability, will be really positive.” The professor reiterated that the probability of a false negative self-test is 40-50%. “The most reliable of all tests is molecular. At the same time, it is not ideal either, as it gives only a 30% probability of a false result, ”stressed Mr. Vasilakopoulos.

The specialist added that “a negative self-test is likely to be false,” and explained, “It’s not safe. Through self-testing, we will find many of those who are asymptomatic carriers of the infection. We must all continue to be vigilant. If a single effective solution was found that would take into account all the positive and negative aspects, the problem would be nullified all over the world, and the pandemic would end. The Greek government made a very correct decision to do two self-tests, because in this case the risk of inaccurate results will be minimized. However, those who test negative should be careful. ”

In fact, the professor’s information confirms the opinion that such tests are needed by the authorities more for complacency, as well as in order to show the whole world that the situation in Greece is improving, which means that the launch of tourism, scheduled for May 14, will be safe.

However, against the background of the closure of Turkey, this step can bring significant benefits for Greece. But how will it affect the real situation with the pandemic?

At the same time, the specialist believes that with a self-test, “a positive result for coronavirus when using a self test, with a very high probability, will be really positive.” The professor reiterated that the probability of a false negative self-test is 40-50%. “The most reliable of all tests is molecular. At the same time, it is not ideal either, as it gives only a 30% probability of a false result, ”stressed Mr. Vasilakopoulos.

The specialist added that “a negative self-test is likely to be false,” and explained, “It’s not safe. Through self-testing, we will find many of those who are asymptomatic carriers of the infection. We must all continue to be vigilant. If a single effective solution was found that would take into account all the positive and negative aspects, the problem would be nullified all over the world, and the pandemic would end. The Greek government made a very correct decision to do two self-tests, because in this case the risk of inaccurate results will be minimized. However, those who test negative should be careful. ”

In fact, the professor’s information confirms the opinion that such tests are needed by the authorities more for complacency, as well as in order to show the whole world that the situation in Greece is improving, which means that the launch of tourism, scheduled for May 14, will be safe.

However, against the background of Turkey’s closure, this step could bring significant benefits for Greece. But how will it affect the real situation with the pandemic?

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