Defence Minister J. Naď provides update on testing in Orava and Bardejov and latest test results as at 11:00 on Saturday

Trial mass testing of the Slovak population for COVID-19 has been underway in Orava and Bardejov district. Of 21,942 individuals tested as at 11:00 on Saturday, there have been 750 positive cases with an infection rate of 3.42%. Since the launch of Op Shared Responsibility, a total of 83,847 people have been tested across Orava and Bardejov district, of these 2,975 (3.55%) have been identified as infectious, Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď announced today.

Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “No problems have been reported, everything is going off very smoothly. We’ve opened all testing sites as planned and strengthened the testing teams, because additional medical staff have signed up to help. We are grateful to every team member. Test data shows that the COVID-19 situation in Bardejov is a little bit better than that in Orava, where Tvrdošín has the highest infection rate (5.15%). However, there are some local testing sites where percentage of all positive cases is 8% and over.”

The public’s interest in getting tested remains high even today. The number of all people tested as at 11:00 today is comparable to yesterday’s figure. “For the time being, we’ve requested the State Material Reserves to provide another 100,000 antigen tests for Orava and Bardejov. I am truly grateful that so many people have turned up for testing, but, once again, I want to call on people from other regions and districts not to travel to Orava and Bardejov for testing,” said Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď, noting that none of those interested in getting tested has been turned down by the testing teams who are acting with consideration and tolerance.

On test results, the head of the MOD explained that if people have a positive result, they are treated as infectious. “Today 2,975 individuals know, and they knew it already yesterday, that they are infectious and they are spreading the infection. They are now being withdrawn from circulation so that others can be protected,” he explained. Those with a negative result of the antigen test are not infectious, although they may be infected with coronavirus. For this reason, people will be retested for coronavirus in coming days. Most importantly, people are advised to observe responsible behaviour, follow safety guidelines, wear face masks and wash hands with hand sanitisers.

Minister of Labour, Social Affairs and Family Milan Krajniak, who has visited over a dozen testing sites and the Mother Teresa Hospice in Bardejov’s Nová Ves since this morning, has provided a positive assessment of swab testing underway and thanked the testing teams for being well organised and for their humane and professional approach. He reminded that trial testing has been going on in parallel with testing at care homes and that, if required, he is ready to request assistance from heads and employees of job centres to help as administrative aids next week.