Covid-19 tests: in Aubervilliers, the labs are always full

Polyclinique d’Aubervilliers: from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. SELAS laboratories at Quatre-Chemins and Fort d’Aubervilliers: from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Cerballiance analysis center on avenue de la République: from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. To avoid endless queues, the Aubervilliers analysis laboratories seem to have all spread the word: the COVID-19 test is done in the afternoon. Only the Municipal Health Center opens in the morning – but only two days a week.

The establishment of “COVID slots” seems to be the only solution to juggle between test seekers, and other usual patients, coming for blood tests, X-rays, ultrasounds, or the like – all while maintaining social distancing, of course. .

The distance, the guard at the entrance maintains it by asking each person passing the entrance if they have made an appointment at the Polyclinic. He is intractable: patients must enter alone. Expectant mothers are the only ones who can depart from the rule and come with their companion. “And again, we relaxed. During confinement, they had to go alone ”, he specifies. A strict but efficient organization: there is no queue at the entrance. Inside, the rules are also strict: never more than six patients in the waiting room, always with a seat apart, specifies the laboratory technician. About a hundred people come to be tested at the Polyclinic every day.

Jocelyne, in her sixties, a carer in a retirement home in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, was tested for the third time. “The first two times I had symptoms. This time it’s because I’m going to have kidney surgery soon! ”

At the analysis center on avenue de la République, you can come without an appointment, from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. only. Outside of these hours, no tests. Technicians bring in patients three by three, while a dozen people line up. here again, a hundred people are tested during these two hours. 45 minutes before opening, a first patient is already there, following symptoms of cough, joint pain, and a little fever. The prospect of being positive does not scare him especially for his health, but he would be remiss if he transmitted the disease to those close to him. A civil servant, he isolated himself while awaiting the results, but continued to work remotely.

Aïssatou, she apprehends a little more. She comes to be tested following a trivial visit to her attending physician for digestive disorders, symptoms that are rare in cases of COVID-19. This 35-year-old mother already had the test a few weeks ago in anticipation of an embolization (blockage of blood vessels). It is since she resumed her post of technical agent in a nursery in Paris, a week ago, that the pains started. “However, I respected the barrier gestures. I took off my mask a few times when I was too hot, but I was always alone ”. Does she also plan to isolate her two children while awaiting the results? I haven’t thought about it yet. I confess that I am still a little in shock. ”

–