People in Denmark with mild coronavirus symptoms offered tests without contacting doctor
The requirement for people with mild symptoms of coronavirus to contact their doctor before booking a test has been removed.
People experiencing mild symptoms can therefore now book a Covid-19 test themselves via coronaprover.dk without a referral from the doctor, the Ministry of Health has confirmed in a statement.
The decision was made in agreement with Danske Regioner, the regional authorities responsible for operating the tests, and aims to reduce the workload the pandemic is placing on GPs in the country.
Doctors are spending a significant amount of time fielding calls from members of the public with mild symptoms of coronavirus.
“This way we ensure access for vulnerable citizens who need to get in touch with their doctor,” health minister Magnus Heunicke said.
“At the same time, we are making the testing system robust and able to handle a winter season in which more people will have consistent with Covid-19,” the minister added.
The change will make it easier for people with mild symptoms to book a test and therbey easily and quickly confirm whether or not they are infected with Covid-19, according to Stephanie Lose, the chairperson of Danske Regioner.
“From today, people who have mild symptoms can book an appointment themselves, without having to call the doctor and get a referral,” Lose said.
“If you have more serious symptoms, or if for some reason you need to talk to or be seen by a doctor, then of course you should always call your own doctor or the on-call on 1813,” she added.
READ ALSO: Emergency in Denmark: Who to call and what to say
All testing locations have been set up to ensure social distancing, while facemasks are mandatory at the sites, the health ministry said in the statement.
Although people with mild symptoms from now on can book a Covid-19 test without speaking to a doctor, the statement stressed that anyone who feels ill and needs to contact a doctor must continue to do so.
The government has a stated goal of providing access to coronavirus testing within 24 hours to 80 percent of those who request it.
READ ALSO: Here’s how to check waiting times for Covid-19 testing in Denmark
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People experiencing mild symptoms can therefore now book a Covid-19 test themselves via coronaprover.dk without a referral from the doctor, the Ministry of Health has confirmed in a statement.
The decision was made in agreement with Danske Regioner, the regional authorities responsible for operating the tests, and aims to reduce the workload the pandemic is placing on GPs in the country.
Doctors are spending a significant amount of time fielding calls from members of the public with mild symptoms of coronavirus.
“This way we ensure access for vulnerable citizens who need to get in touch with their doctor,” health minister Magnus Heunicke said.
“At the same time, we are making the testing system robust and able to handle a winter season in which more people will have consistent with Covid-19,” the minister added.
The change will make it easier for people with mild symptoms to book a test and therbey easily and quickly confirm whether or not they are infected with Covid-19, according to Stephanie Lose, the chairperson of Danske Regioner.
“From today, people who have mild symptoms can book an appointment themselves, without having to call the doctor and get a referral,” Lose said.
“If you have more serious symptoms, or if for some reason you need to talk to or be seen by a doctor, then of course you should always call your own doctor or the on-call on 1813,” she added.
READ ALSO: Emergency in Denmark: Who to call and what to say
All testing locations have been set up to ensure social distancing, while facemasks are mandatory at the sites, the health ministry said in the statement.
Although people with mild symptoms from now on can book a Covid-19 test without speaking to a doctor, the statement stressed that anyone who feels ill and needs to contact a doctor must continue to do so.
The government has a stated goal of providing access to coronavirus testing within 24 hours to 80 percent of those who request it.
READ ALSO: Here’s how to check waiting times for Covid-19 testing in Denmark
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