After the first round of the whole country testing for COVID-19 in Slovakia, which took place on the weekend between Oct. 31 - Nov. 1., the government decided to repeat the testing during next weekend Nov. 7 - 8 just in certain regions. Those regions were identified as the ones where the infection rate for COVID-19 was above 0,7% during the first round.
The Trencin region in the western part of the country had the COVID rate above 1% which meant that the 2nd round of testing was necessary and obligatory. I mainly documented various testing places in Trencin city which has a population of around 55 thousand and it's the eight largest municipality in Slovakia. The number of testing stations for 2nd round was 50, with many different types of testing stations available. For example 4 drive-in stations, also many indoor stations and outdoor stations across the city.
A paramedic is testing a man in a car with Real-Time PCR test for COVID-19. People had the opportunity to be also tested in these drive-in test stations when appointed for a specific time during the day.
People are waiting outside the testing station for the test results. It takes between 15-30 minutes to get the results. This testing station was placed in an old ice-hockey arena.
A soldier brings closed envelopes with the test results into the area where people are waiting. People are holding their unique numbers to match the numbers on the envelopes.
A woman is waiting inside for the results after being tested.
A paramedic is completing an antigen test sample. At the top, there is a time when the test is taken. At the bottom, there is a specific order number to identify the tested person.
A police officer is calling the next person to be registered while others are waiting outside the testing station.
Paramedics are waiting for the next person to be tested.
Paramedic Rastislav Sokol personalised his shield with his nickname „Soky“ and the name of the Trencin city district Opatova.
Paramedic team during testing in the open-air station.
Marked spot on the ground where a tested person should stand while the paramedic is standing opposite and applying the test.
A paramedic is applying antigen testing on a man through his nose.
Completing the registration process before actual testing.
Medical is holding one test which came out with two red stripes. It means it is COVID-positive. All the rest on the table are harmful.
Paramedics are having a conversation during testing. A box with antigen COVID-19 tests is behind them.
After each tested person paramedics clean and disinfect themselves.
An older woman is approaching the registration table. This testing station is placed inside a city building.
Paramedic in the protective cover is carefully testing a woman.
One red stripe identifies that the test is negative. Number 83 identifies the specific tested person and the time 15:54-16:10 shows the start of the test and the time after which the result can be called.
A paramedic is writing the exact time on each test when it was taken. Then the tests stay about 15 minutes on a table to „be developed“.
Paramedics are applying disinfection on each other, which is essential, especially in indoor testing stations.
