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Corona testing is progressing well in most regions, but not yet everywhere

Until June 1, corona testing was reserved for at-risk groups, healthcare and education personnel. Since a week, anyone who has complaints – colds, fever, shortness of breath – can schedule a test appointment via a national number.


For the time being, the national test policy only seems to cause problems in Southeast Brabant and Rotterdam Rijnmond. People with complaints from those regions were often unable to turn to within 24 hours.

“It was easy to handle before 1 June,” says a spokesman for the GGD Zuidoost-Brabant. “It was not that busy back then, although the number of people varied from 20 to 80 a day.”

Scaling up

Since June 1, more than 320 people report that the GGD can handle daily. “We are now scaling up the capacity, people can not immediately go the next day. We could not immediately test full capacity, now we have recruited more people and two additional locations are opening this week.”


It was ‘extremely busy’ in the Rotterdam Rijnmond region last week, a spokesperson says. “We also saw that we could only test people after a few days.” As of this week, there are two additional locations to test.

“We think it will be a little less busy this week than last week. It is estimated that people can contact us within 48 hours. The locations in Rotterdam themselves are the most popular; people who want to be tested here often have to wait a little longer . “


Where can you get tested?

The national number 0800-1202 is intended for people who only have minor complaints that could indicate corona (a runny nose, cough, increase).

  • People with serious complaints, such as high fever and shortness of breath, call their GP (or at the GP post during the weekend).
  • People who already have another condition or illness, such as cancer, should also call their doctor or treating physician if they develop corona complaints.
  • Hospital staff can be tested in hospital.


Peak moments

With other Brabant GGDs, the capacity of the test locations is not an issue. The test streets in West Brabant were fully planned last Thursday and Friday, says spokesperson Jeroen Polman. “But on weekends they were only half full. Normally you can go a day later, but sometimes also on the day itself.” In principle, you can also contact Hart voor Brabant a day later, says a spokesperson.


The GGD Limburg Noord is far from the maximum number of tests in a day. “If you call in the morning, you can often go the same day,” said spokeswoman Lilion van Mierlo. “We can test 720 people every day. The peak so far was last Friday, when we tested 256 people.”

Greater uncertainty

In regions such as Zeeland and Groningen, time blocks are usually left. “It changes every day, but you could still go today,” says spokeswoman Geke van Gosliga, when we speak to her just after noon.

Her region is only moderately affected, she says. “I can imagine that uncertainty is much greater in Brabant and that this plays a role in people’s decision to be tested.”


There is no test street in Zeeland, but people with complaints are referred to the hospital in Goes or Terneuzen. “You can just go there and when the day is full, you can add time blocks,” said a spokeswoman.

On a roll

The GGDs in Amsterdam and Utrecht have no problem meeting the test demand. “It all went smoothly last week,” said a GGD spokesman in the capital.

About 900 people are tested every day in Utrecht. “The same day as they call, or the day after,” said a spokeswoman. “If demand increases, we can easily scale up, for example by adding an extra track to the test line.”


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