As the existence of a COVID-19 vaccine remains uncertain, the Czech government is focusing on the idea of herd immunity. Therefore, the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic launched voluntary testing in order to find out how many people living in the country have the COVID-19 antibodies.
Who can participate in this study
The study is focusing on healthy people – that is, people who might have suffered from the disease while being completely asymptomatic. The testing will be performed with the explicit consent of the subject to participate in the study and is not intended for people who assume they might be in an early stage of the disease.
People who would like to be tested for the antibodies must meet the following conditions:
- Be aged from 18 to 89 years (children aged from 8 to 17 years can be tested only in Prague or Brno and its surroundings);
- Have no acute health problems typical for the COVID-19 (such as bad cough etc.);
- Don’t have a fever;
- Must not be previously tested positive for the COVID-19;
- Have a temporary or permanent residence permit.
Where volunteers can get tested for the antibodies
There are in total ten areas where people can get tested.
Those are:
- Prague – Náměstí míru (from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM only people aged from 18 to 59 years);
- Prague – Zítkovy sady (from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM only people aged from 18 to 59 years);
- Prague – Kateřinská zahrada (from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM only people older than 60 years, from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM only people aged from 18 to 59 years);
- Brno – Moravské náměstí (from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, between 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM in preference to people older than 60 years);
- Brno – Bohunice, the parking lot in front of the Masaryk University campus (from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, between 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM in preference to people older than 60 years);
- Olomouc – Globus supermarket (from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, between 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM in preference to people older than 60 years);
- Litovel – in front of the Billa supermarket (from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, between 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM in preference to people older than 60 years);
- Uničov – Náměstí Osvobození (from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, between 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM in preference to people older than 60 years);
- Litoměřice – ZAHRADA ČECH s.r.o. (from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, between 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM in preference to people older than 60 years);
- + IKEM – only for the chronically ill.
Study duration
The testing is expected to last for two weeks in total, from April to May. Due to the high interest, it is, however, also possible the quota (that is 27.000 people) will be met sooner and the testing will be stopped.
What to expect
Upon arrival, volunteers will be tested for fever and later given information about the study. After that, they’ll be asked to sign a few documents and a short questionnaire. Then they’ll have a sample of their blood taken from their finger (with the exception of people getting tested in Olomouc, Litovel and Uničov – they’ll have the sample of their blood taken from their arm) – the result will be known after about 20 minutes.
People tested positive for the antibodies will undergo sampling of biological material from the nasopharynx for further examination and given information about the next steps. The result of these particular tests will be known in two days.
Other details
Before getting tested people can call the number 1212 or write an email to podpora.nsc@uzis.cz. The testing will be performed for free.
More information can be also found on the Ministry of Health’s web page and here (in Czech only).
UPDATE: The testing was ended on April 29 because the target number of tested was achieved.
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