Strict ranking recommended for coronavirus testing

According to a recommendation by the EU Commission, coronavirus tests should be carried out according to a strict ranking and should first of all be available for patients with severe symptoms in hospitals. The recommendation for a uniform procedure for the tests in the European Union was given to the German press agency on Thursday. The commission generally rated drive-in test stations positively.

The Brussels authorities emphasized that timely and correct testing is crucial in the fight against lung disease Covid-19. This is the basis for decisions to contain the pandemic and treat patients.

The EU member states should test according to a five-step plan, the recommendation said:
first hospital patients with serious respiratory infections, then those with acute respiratory infections and healthcare workers with symptoms. In third place are patients with acute infections outside the hospitals, followed by older people with chronic diseases. Only if the epidemic is local and the necessary resources are available should all patients with respiratory infections be tested, the recommendations say.
Symptom-free people who were in contact with infected people could also be tested.