Well respected virologists from the Slovak Academy of Sciences, a biochemist who designs diagnostic kits, an epidemiologist and molecular biologist from the Medical Faculty of Comenius University In Bratislava, and an infectious disease expert were among those who, on Tuesday, publicly called on Prime Minister Igor Matovic (OLaNO), the Government, the Central Crisis Committee and the Pandemic Commission to consider carefully which steps will be most effective in the fight against the current outbreak in the mid- and long-term.
"When it comes to mass-testing we consider it very important to properly communicate the results to the public. This must be done in the context of the scientific knowledge we have about this type of antigen test, and its limits. It is very important not to link the result of the antigen test with whether or not someone is infectious. We consider it imperative to respect the expert guidelines which require confirming a positive antigen test result with a follow-up PCR test," said virologist Silvia Pastorekova, director of the Biomedical Centre of the Slovak Academy of Sciences. She and her colleagues who joined in the appeal think that the public's trust in the proposed measures to fight coronavirus could be jeopardized if the mass-testing event to take place at the weekend is systematically interpreted as the only alternative to more extensive mobility restrictions. Measures should take into account anticipated trends. The scientists are calling for improving the system of tracing contacts and reinforcing regional public health offices.
According to the scientists, in the upcoming period it is necessary to set up clear criteria and rules for the selection of test subjects in the event of limited testing capacity, and to define the needs and the schedule for introducing additional capacities, for example with the help of GPs.
They have also called for intensive communication and coordination of measures with other European countries, particularly Slovakia's neighbours, in order to create a safe geographic zone that would permit borders to stay open.
So far the Government has not reacted to the scientists' appeal.
