Norwegian health authorities hope to be testing as many as 100,000 people a week by the end of the month, aided by what they think will be easier access to the chemicals needed and new methods of testing.
“We’re working on finding out the most optimal measures,” Svein Lie, acting head of the state health directorate, told state broadcaster NRK on Thursday. “We think that by the end of April or early May we’ll be able to increase testing by tens of thousands every week, maybe as many as 100,000.”
Testing capacity in Norway has been limited to those aged 65 and over who have fever, coughs and breathing difficulties, those confirmed as having been exposed to the virus, those admitted to hospital and health care personnel working with patients suffering from the Corona-induced illness Covid-19. Not only has there been a shortage of testing materials, there’s also been limited laboratory capacity and protective gear in which to administer tests.
Lie contends that Norway continues to rank high in Corona testing per capita, but many seeking a test have nonetheless been turned down. Health care personnel, meanwhile, have been urging a massive expansion of testing, also on themselves. Around 30,000 Norwegians a week are being tested at present.
newsinenglish.no staff
