ZMOS Would Rather Not Have Second Round of Countrywide Testing (2)

Liptovsky Hradok, November 2 (TASR) - The Towns and Villages Association (ZMOS) would prefer not to see a second round of countrywide testing for COVID-19 in Slovakia, ZMOS chairman Branislav Treger stated at a press conference in Liptovsky Hradok (Zilina region) on Monday, adding that ZMOS understands the importance of testing more in areas where it's actually necessary, pointing to the northern part of the country. ZMOS will be interested in the opinion of experts but can imagine a more targeted use of materials and financial resources for testing, such as at the country's borders. "Experts, health professionals and epidemiologists must comment on this, but we recommend that a second round of comprehensive testing should not take place; that it should be carried out only in areas where it's necessary," said Treger. According to the ZMOS head, towns and municipalities in Slovakia responded to all suggestions in the first round of countrywide testing, which took place at the weekend, but this often took the form of accusations and questioning. "Nevertheless, we were able to mobilise and help the state make the event a success," he said. According to Treger, local governments often received confusing, contradictory, delayed or misleading information. "We want a second round of testing, if it comes, to be improved, with the errors that occurred in the first round debugged," he added. Prime Minister Igor Matovic (OLaNO) stated on Sunday that repeated mass testing of almost the entire Slovak population for coronavirus will certainly take place, perhaps with the exception of a few relatively unaffected districts. He admitted that he's still due to discuss the matter with experts. "We'll need an honest discussion with epidemiologists and infectious disease experts," he said. Meanwhile, the ZMOS chairman also called on the Government to reimburse immediately the costs incurred by comprehensive testing, emphasising that the costs related to the first wave of novel coronavirus haven't been reimbursed yet. am/df