Self-test suppliers have already sold 6.5 million covid-19 tests to companies, with 1.5 million currently in stock. Another 2.7 million tests will be available by the end of the week. They will deliver 9.9 million tests to the market next week. This was stated today by the Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlíček at a press conference after an extraordinary meeting of the government.
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According to Havlíček, the above information is from companies that have so far obtained an exemption from the Ministry of Health and from which domestic companies can purchase tests for self-testing. The Ministry of Health is constantly updating the list of suppliers, currently there are about 50 companies, on Monday there were about 20 of them.
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The state contributes 60 crowns per test to self-tests through health insurance relief, paying a maximum of four tests per employee per month. Deductions from health insurance for self-tests also apply to self-employed persons.
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Companies with more than 250 employees were to start their comprehensive testing today. They must complete it by March 12. According to Havlíček, testing began without major problems, even though the companies had only a few days to prepare. They use self-tests and government-recommended testing methods by occupational physicians, mobile testing teams, or through existing sampling centers, he said. In the case of antigen testing by a doctor, this is fully covered by health insurance.
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Companies with 50 to 249 employees will take part in the comprehensive testing on Friday, which must test all employees by March 15.
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Thanks to a new government measure, according to Havlíček, ten thousand companies will test two to 2.5 million workers every week.
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Duty for the state as well
At an extraordinary session on Friday, the government should discuss the introduction of mandatory testing for civil servants from March 10. This was stated today by the Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlíček (for YES) at a press conference after the government. He agreed on this today with Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (YES).
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According to Havlíček, the teams of the Ministry of the Interior and Health are currently preparing the text of a resolution on the mandatory testing of civil servants for covid-19. “It will be fine-tuned during tomorrow (Thursday), on Friday it will be presented to the government at noon,” said Havlíček. According to Havlíček, the inclusion of other institutions in area testing is possible thanks to today’s well-started mandatory testing in large companies and confirmed deliveries of self-tests. Next week, at least 9.9 million of them should arrive on the Czech market from approved companies. According to Havlíček, 20 million self-tests will be able to reach the Czech Republic in two weeks.
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