Up to 12-day waiting time for Covid-19 tests reported in Danish cities
People in Denmark’s two largest cities Copenhagen and Aarhus are currently facing waiting times of up to 12 days to be tested for coronavirus.
Other parts of the country are experiencing even longer waits, with 12 and 14 days in Slagelse and Holbæk respectively and 16 days in Roskilde. The towns of Skjern and Mejrup currently have no slots available at all.
The figures come from Testcenter Danmark, which operates the country's mobile testing sites.
People in areas with long waiting times have been able to book tests sooner at alternative locations, Ritzau writes.
Additionally, some areas, including Copenhagen, have mobile test centres which do not require appointments in advance.
Nationally, 25 of the 34 permanent test centres which are open every day currently have waiting times of at least two days.
The type of appointments in questioned are for people with mild symptoms or with no symptoms who want a test for precautionary purposes – for example prior to visiting an elderly relative.
People with more serious symptoms, or with close contact to confirmed cases, use a different route or ‘track’ to access Covid-19 tests, and are therefore subject to different waiting times. Close contacts are reported to have waiting times of 0-3 days for testing at the current time. The waiting time is less still for those with serious symptoms or in need of treatment.
But the numbers nevertheless indicate that testing capacity is currently not reaching the government target of availability within one day for 80 percent of the population.
Demand for tests is likely to have increased in recent days, given the surge in cases reported in the country since the beginning of this week.
Danske Regioner, the umbrella authority for regional health services, said on Thursday that test capacity is being expanded, while the government on Thursday said it would deploy private companies to help increase capacity.
READ ALSO: Denmark extends lockdown to 31 more municipalities as Covid-19 cases spike
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Other parts of the country are experiencing even longer waits, with 12 and 14 days in Slagelse and Holbæk respectively and 16 days in Roskilde. The towns of Skjern and Mejrup currently have no slots available at all.
The figures come from Testcenter Danmark, which operates the country's mobile testing sites.
People in areas with long waiting times have been able to book tests sooner at alternative locations, Ritzau writes.
Additionally, some areas, including Copenhagen, have mobile test centres which do not require appointments in advance.
Nationally, 25 of the 34 permanent test centres which are open every day currently have waiting times of at least two days.
The type of appointments in questioned are for people with mild symptoms or with no symptoms who want a test for precautionary purposes – for example prior to visiting an elderly relative.
People with more serious symptoms, or with close contact to confirmed cases, use a different route or ‘track’ to access Covid-19 tests, and are therefore subject to different waiting times. Close contacts are reported to have waiting times of 0-3 days for testing at the current time. The waiting time is less still for those with serious symptoms or in need of treatment.
But the numbers nevertheless indicate that testing capacity is currently not reaching the government target of availability within one day for 80 percent of the population.
Demand for tests is likely to have increased in recent days, given the surge in cases reported in the country since the beginning of this week.
Danske Regioner, the umbrella authority for regional health services, said on Thursday that test capacity is being expanded, while the government on Thursday said it would deploy private companies to help increase capacity.
READ ALSO: Denmark extends lockdown to 31 more municipalities as Covid-19 cases spike
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