When mass testing of entire population of Kyrgyzstan will begin?

Bishkek, June 25, 2020. /Kabar/. Kyrgyz Ministry of Health said when the mass testing of Kyrgyzstan's entire population will begin.

At the briefing, Deputy Health Minister Madamin Karatayev said 13 virological laboratories with 16 PCR machines are currently operating in the country.

"Also 3 mobile express laboratories are installed in Chui, Batken and Dzhalal-Abad Oblasts. The country has sufficient number of PCR-tests. We have an agreement with the Bonetsk laboratory, where PCR-tests are also being conducted. Today, there is a large influx of specialists, and they don't have time," he said.

The health minister (Sabirzhan Abdikarimov) held Wednesday meeting with owners of private laboratories to open them for additional testing and PCR research.

"I want to note that there is no need for mass testing of the entire population. According to the Health Ministry's instructions, patients with symptoms of ODS, contact patients, persons with suspected coronavirus infection, persons at risk, i.e. those arriving from countries with poor epidemiological situation, health workers employed in hospitals and observatories are to be tested for PCR research.

Therefore, at present, there is no need to test the entire population. But we will consider some options in advance and try to divide people into positive and negative groups if possible, so that there are no complications later," Karatayev said.