Epidemiologist Artan Simaku explained all the steps that citizens should follow to get the test from the state to determine whether they have COVID-19. This is how the process works in theory.
Simaku explained that “if a citizen has any signs or symptoms related to the disease, he should either call 127 directly or call his family doctor. ‘
He stressed that the follow-up of the patient is done by the family doctor, who in addition to referring the patient to the Health Care Unit for obtaining the test, gives the patient treatment according to his condition.
Simaku explained why the test is given a few days late, after the citizen’s phone call.
The epidemiologist explained that the test is performed on the fourth or fifth day of having the virus as this provides a better chance of getting a correct answer.
“The test is taken on day 4 or 5 because otherwise, a false negative result is at risk of being given.”
Regarding the decision to quarantine or return to work of the infected, Simaku clarified that it is up to the family doctor to decide on this:
“The decision is made by the family doctor of the person with symptoms and his family members. The family doctor gives the certificate for self-isolation, quarantine or return to work, depending on the doctor’s judgment.”
Last week, Exit spoke to several people with varying symptoms and levels of severity who had followed these steps but who said they had not been tested.
