In three days, 2468 Covid-19 saliva tests have been performed in Latvia, of which 28 or 1.13% were positive, the Minister of Health Ilze Ņķele (AP) told the Latvian Television program “Morning Panorama” this morning.
The Minister considers that the accuracy of the saliva test for general Covid-19 screening and crowd testing is “absolutely sufficient”. However, she stressed – experts say that the swabs from the throat mucosa, taken with a “dowel in the nose”, practiced so far, are more accurate.
Asked why saliva tests to detect the presence of the new coronavirus are not being used more widely, the minister said it would be done in parallel with a testing method with swabs taken from the mucosa. “It is the recommendation of infectologists and epidemiologists how these tests should be used in parallel. There are no mutually exclusive and there are places and times when it is absolutely necessary to perform this most unpleasant test,” the politician said.
She added that the saliva test will be widely used in the Children’s Clinical University Hospital. “These tests are already being tested there. Of course, it is a much more gentle method for children,” said Nike.
As reported, from Monday to Wednesday, residents of Kuldiga could voluntarily take free Covid-19 saliva tests, while on Saturday, October 3, saliva tests will be available in Daugavpils. It is expected that this will significantly increase the volume of testing and further assess the development of the situation.
Due to the spread of Covid-19, restrictions have been introduced in Kuldiga and Daugavpils until mid-October, including no more than 500 people at a time in indoor events, but no more than eight visitors can be at one table in public catering places, the Cabinet decided at an extraordinary meeting on Wednesday.
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