The information report prepared by the Ministry of Health (VM) “Extensive use of rapid antigen self-tests for Covid-19 screening, Phase 1” explains that according to the Prime Minister’s task, VM is tasked with offering solutions to expand Covid-19 testing, including wider use of antigen and other rapid tests. .
As proposed by the Operational Steering Group, specialists have assessed the need for regular testing for Covid-19, including vaccinated and diseased individuals in critical sectors, which is essential for the early detection of Covid-19 infection in asymptomatic individuals.
In addition, given the workload of laboratories and the cost of testing services, a relatively less expensive test method could be used to test routine asymptomatic individuals – rapid SARS-CoV-2 virus antigen tests, where it is not necessary to involve physicians for sampling and testing, as material sampling and the interpretation of the results is done by the person himself.
According to the recommendations of the European Center for Disease Prevention (ECDC), these self-tests improve the availability of testing, speed up diagnosis, and thus offer the opportunity to isolate infected people earlier and reduce further transmission of infection.
The ECDC recommendations also emphasize that self-tests are better perceived by the public and can be performed much more frequently than “PCR” tests in laboratories. Self-tests are also often cheaper than the cost of PCR tests.
With regard to proposals for further action, it is proposed to initially introduce the use of self-tests for screening in the priority areas of education as well as the public sector.
At the same time, a regulatory framework and a logistics system would be prepared for further expansion of the use of self-tests. Screening with self-tests in priority areas of education and the public sector will be provided to vaccinated, morbid and non-vaccinated individuals, including children.
It is planned that the testing algorithm published on the website of the Center for Disease Prevention and Control (SPKC) will be supplemented with self-tests, as well as measures will be developed that can be performed institutionally and individually if the test result is positive.
These measures would include a procedure for reporting results if the test has been performed at home, reporting positive results to the SPC, conducting a confirmatory PCR test in an epidemiologically safe manner, regulating incapacity for work and contact status and procedures.
The possibility of replacing the home quarantine of vaccinated contact persons with daily self-tests in the institution for the next seven days will also be considered. If necessary, regulatory enactments will also be amended.
The report explains that a mixed screening testing system is planned for the general and vocational education system. This means that students are subjected to a weekly PCR screening test with a pooled sample (‘chewing’ or ‘stick’ test) to reduce the risks associated with the quality of the self-tests.
In addition, students would take a self-test twice a week. Primary school 1st-3rd grade students would take a self-test at home, under parental supervision, but older students would take a self-test at an educational institution.
It is planned that teachers and support staff will take a self-test twice a week.
After the introduction of self-tests in educational institutions, it will be assessed whether it is possible to switch to them completely and abandon the use of screening PCR test with pooled samples.
With regard to the use of self-tests in public sector priority areas, the use of self-tests is intended to replace regular screening with twice-weekly self-tests. Self-tests will screen all individuals, including those who have been vaccinated, and will not sample and quota screeners, as is currently the case.
A sufficient number of self-tests will also be provided to allow re-testing in case of errors, to be able to perform tests in case of symptoms if necessary.
This test should be performed by social care service providers, including clients, home affairs services, the Prison Administration, the State Probation Service, the army, the State Revenue Service, SJSC Latvijas Pasts, Riga Airport, JSC Air Baltic Corporation, SJSC railway ”, JSC“ Pasažieru vilciens ”employees. These tests would also be intended for inspections of small numbers of staff, asylum seekers, nurseries and driving instructors.
The report states that rapid tests for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus antigen will involve the collection of nasal specimens at a depth of no more than three centimeters. It is intended to purchase tests that are simple and easy to use, including for children.
After the start of the first phase, the results will be evaluated and, if necessary, decisions will be made on the further or wider use of self-tests, including the use of self-tests in regular occupational screening, full transition to education system screening, treatment and other uses.
Taking into account the above-mentioned draft government decision prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture, in order to ensure the use of rapid self-tests in educational institutions and public sector priority areas from 22 November 2021 to 17 January 2022, additional funding of 14,148,160 euros is required.
The draft government decision envisages the National Defense Logistics and Procurement Center to organize the purchase of 7,074,078 self-tests, applying the provision of the Public Procurement Law on the organization of the negotiation procedure.
It is planned that the mentioned financing will be taken from the state budget in case of unforeseen cases.
Currently, the VM report has been sent to the Ministry of Finance for approval. The deadline for conciliation is mid-November.
