Afraid of testing? Minimise your risk of infection with these test day tips

Coughing is the most dangerous part of the testing process.

Zborov, the Bardejov districtZborov, the Bardejov district (Source: TASR)

People attending the nationwide testing will queue with dozens of others, without knowing whether they are healthy or not.

Before taking the swab, people have to remove their mask for a while and cough into a tissue. However, some are afraid that they might be infected if there is anybody positive with the virus nearby.

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Related article The big testing: When and where to show up, and what if I don't want to? (FAQ) Read more 

Is there a reason to fear the testing? How should the sampling place be secured to protect people from getting infected? How should a person behave to minimise the risk of infection?

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The Sme daily approached epidemiologists Henrieta Hudečková, Zuzana Krištúfková, Alexandra Bražinová and Mária Avdičová with these questions. They agree that if the organisers and people who are tested stick to the rules, the risk of getting infected is minimal.

“Basically, it’s important to keep distances at sampling sites, use tissues to catch the exhaled particles, and use disinfection,” said Daša Račková, spokesperson of the Public Health Authority (ÚVZ).

Dangerous coughing

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