Research Luxembourg has confirmed that large-scale testing of the Luxembourg population for COVID-19 will commence in the week of 18 May 2020.
In light of logistical and technical issues, the large-scale coronavirus project will start with smaller testing capacities next week. In parallel, preparations are being made for the gradual build-up of full capacity, to be reached from the week of 1 June 2020.
Testing will be carried out in seventeen drive-in stations which will progressively open across the country. Research Luxembourg added that the feasibility of a non-drive-in station near the Luxembourg train station is currently being discussed. Residents will be invited to get tested in the upcoming weeks.
Professor Ulf Nehrbass, Spokesperson of the Research Luxembourg Task Force, explained: “If we want to be successful with the deconfinement, it is key to identify the asymptomatic people who carry the virus in order to break the chain of transmission. This can only be achieved through large-scale testing. Which means that the main aim of the whole project is not only to tell an individual if he/she is positive or not but first and foremost to spot those people that carry the virus but have no symptoms. This is an important step in the prevention of a second wave, without having to go back into a lockdown”.
In terms of logistics, the reagents and swabs that will be used in Luxembourg are produced in the USA and China, respectively. Reserach Luxembourg thus explained that there is a risk that political decisions in these countries could impose an export stop of these materials.
Further details of the large-scale testing project will be announced next week.
