It is busy in the corona test streets. Presumably, some of the people will have themselves tested for corona just before Christmas dinner just to be sure. Does that make sense?
In principle, corona tests are only intended for people with complaints related to the coronavirus. And since December 1 also for people who have been in contact with someone who has the coronavirus. Yet, in principle, anyone can easily get a test, even if you do not meet the requirements for a test. “Of course there is little that can be done about people who say they have a cold, for example, when they are not”, GGD spokesperson Linda de Heer says about this in De Gelderlander.
Negative test: safe at dinner?
The only question is: does it make sense to get tested if you have no complaints and have not been in contact with someone who has corona? And can you safely sit down at the Christmas table with family members with a negative test?
Snapshot
According to Ashis Brahma, infectious disease control doctor at the GGD North and East Gelderland, it is not a good idea. “The problem is it’s a snapshot”, she says in the NOS Radio 1 Journaal. “After the test, you can still come into contact with others and get corona, or you can still have too low virus values to get a positive test, while you are contagious.”
Testing a day in advance via a rapid test is also not a foolproof plan. According to Brahma, a rapid test is often less good if a virus is at the beginning.
