Self-examination: When is it mandatory – How is it done – Who is entitled to it

In the battle to cope with the coronavirus pandemic, self-diagnostic home tests are added.

The supply of pharmacy will begin next Wednesday, April 7 and at the end of the week the 11,000 pharmacies throughout the country will have enough quantities to sell them in the first phase to Secondary students ages 16 to 18 and the teachers. Then to citizens in productive ages of 18 to 67 years and finally, to those over 67 years of age.

Self-tests will be performed exclusively at home and not to pharmacies that will simply deliver the packaging in which there will be a clear print instructions in greek for the correct collection of the sample and the realization of the diagnostic test.

Every citizen has the right one self test per week, four per month, for a period of two months, which can be obtained on presentation AMKA from the pharmacy. For minor children, parents will provide self-assessments.

It is clarified that the individual test is for healthy and asymptomatic people, while when a citizen presents symptoms of infection, that is, fever, cough or others, the negative test must always be confirmed by a molecular test.

What are self tests?

Self-diagnostic tests are mainly nasal tests or saliva tests, much easier to use, with simple instructions for use and specially designed so that everyone can use them effectively on their own. This is also the basic difference from rapid tests.

In the event of a positive result, citizens with a second rapid test, which can be performed free of charge in a public structure, will be able to confirm the initial result.

Compulsory self-examination per week by students and teachers.

Parents will be able to receive the appropriate tests for their children by submitting their AMKA.

• the self-diagnosis will be carried out at home 24 to 48 hours before the start of the courses and the result will be announced on the platform self-testing.gov.gr
• in case of negative result, the parent / guardian must print and sign the corresponding certificate that the student will bring with them during the week and will show it to the teacher of their class who will be in charge of attendance
• Those students who test positive must take a second antigen test as soon as possible, free of charge, at a public facility to excuse their absence from school.
• Students who do not bring the certificate will not be able to attend their classes, nor will there be the possibility of distance learning

For which other categories of citizens are self-assessments mandatory?

Citizens active in the coronavirus, in addition to students and teachers, must undergo a weekly rapid coronavirus test. coasting, Shipment, Retail sale, business, focus, tourism companies, Processing, courts.

In case of a positive case, the statement will be made on the platform self-testing.gov.gr (which will operate next Wednesday) depending on the status of citizen (eg employee, student) and a certificate will be issued or an SMS will be sent to perform a test of repetition by a health professional either in a public structure (where it will be free) or in a private structure.

Those who are required to carry out a self-test and if it is negative, they will declare that they did affirmation. Employees, and teachers, on their behalf, and parents and guardians on behalf of their students.

It is highlighted that the guarantee of rights (absence from school or work) is fully assured by the second verification test.

By conducting an individual test by the citizens themselves at home once a week, asymptomatic or presymptomatic patients will be identified in time, – they will show symptoms in the next one or two days – with the aim of early detection and isolation of these new cases, but also tracing their close contacts to interrupt the chain of transmission of the coronavirus.

Experts point out that home self-diagnosis tests can in no way replace epidemiological surveillance, on the contrary, they are an additional means of self-diagnosis and individual self-protection for the early diagnosis and isolation of asymptomatic patients.