Free rapid antigen testing for SARS-CoV-2 started on Monday at 12 locations in Zagreb, organised by the Zagreb City Office for Health and in cooperation with city health centres.

Mayor Milan Bandic attended the start of drive-in testing outside one of the 12 locations in the Siget neighbourhood.

He told reporters they had been working on this for nearly a month. He thanked heads of East, West and Centre health centres and all branches where free rapid antigen tests are conducted.

He said that all 12 testing points had been fully booked for today and tomorrow, with 1,200 people per point. He added that they were starting with 60,000 tests, and depending on citizens’ interest, the number would be increased.

According to him, the testing has three roles: to protect the health of the citizens of Zagreb, to rapidly detect SARS-CoV-2 and to confirm COVID-19.

Head of Zagreb – Centre health centre, Antonija Balenovic, confirmed that citizens were very interested in rapid testing.

She said that from the beginning the strategic plan was for the testing to be not only rapid but also accurate and reliable, to send the information to everyone who needed it and to avoid crowds, which was why there were 12 testing points.

Over the past few weeks, big preparations were underway and heads of all three health centres together with their staff made an effort to organise everything properly, in line with epidemiological measures, Balenovic added.