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Mass Covid-19 screening tests planned for residents of Alhaurín el Grande

One of the Junta's mobile testing units.
One of the Junta's mobile testing units. / SUR
  • The town's mayor said the voluntary screening sessions are being arranged in areas where the virus infection rate is above the provincial average

The Junta de Andalucía will carry out a mass coronavirus screening of 1,000 residents of Alhaurín el Grande on Wednesday, 13 January.

The town’s mayor, Toñi Ledesma, said that the regional government has made the decision to carry out mass screening in towns where the infection rate is above the average provincial rate which currently stands at 186 per 100,000 inhabitants.

Alhaurín el Grande presently has 70 positive cases - giving it a rate of 283 per 100,000 inhabitants - according to the mayor.

Cut the chain

In the coming days the health authority will notify the one thousand people selected for the voluntary testing at one of the Junta’s mobile units in the town. The sessions will run from 10am to 3pm and from 4pm to 6pm on 13 January.

The mayor has asked everyone invited to attend the voluntary tests which will help identify asymptomatic patients and "cut the chain of transmission of Covid-19, something of utmost importance to improve the epidemiological situation".

Alhaurín el Grande’s civic leader has also reinforced the message of exercising "utmost precaution in the face of this significant upturn in cases due to Christmas gatherings", and asked residents to avoid leaving the house "except for when absolutely vital and continue taking all possible precautions to avoid contagion".