Intervention Categories: Surveillance and response measures; Detecting and isolating cases
Level of Jurisdiction: National
Overview: The Dutch Government announced they will be expanding the capacity to test for COVID-19 from 4,000 tests per day in late March to 17,500 in following weeks.
This greater capacity is linked to a broader test policy, which has increased the number of laboratories testing for COVID-19 from 14 to 41. This allows healthcare workers and their patients outside hospitals to be tested, including general practitioners, nursing homes, facilities caring for the disabled, home care, youth care, and mental healthcare services.
Previously, testing for COVID-19 could only be requested through municipal public health services (GGD). The new test policy will be laid out in a guideline by the National Institute for Public Health and Environment (RIVM) and come into effect on 6 April.
Full details here: https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/coronavirus-covid-19/nieuws/2020/03/31/testcapaciteit-verviervoudigd-coronatests-mogelijk-voor-al-het-zorgpersoneel