Coronavirus pandemic: Romania’s health minister says testing centers are overcrowded

Some 6,000 – 7,000 Covid-19 tests are in waiting daily as the 133 local testing labs are overcrowded, health minister Nelu Tătaru said, quoted by News.ro.

The solution would be a three-shift schedule for the testing centers, the minister said on Sunday, July 19. This would increase the testing capacity to 27,000-28,000 tests per day.

The testing centers currently have a two-shift schedule.

“We currently have 133 testing centers, with an average of 19,000 – 20,000 daily tests, within a two-shift schedule. If these centers increase their capacity to three shifts per day, then we can have 27,000 – 28,000 tests per day; this can compensate for the requests for testing from those who go on holiday. A large part of the tests are left in waiting, some 6,000 – 7,000 tests per day,” the minister explained.

Romania reported 889 coronavirus cases on Saturday, July 18, another record since the start of the pandemic, and another 767 cases on Sunday, July 19. The total reached 37,458 on July 19.

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