WILLEMSTAD - The crisis team is considering opening a drive-thru where people can have themselves tested for infection with the COVID-19 virus. Such a system already exists abroad, and a pilot is currently being investigated to determine whether it is a suitable method for Curaçao.

This was announced by epidemiologist Dr. Izzy Gerstenbluth, operational medical leader, during a recent briefing. The drive-thru would contribute to expanding the testing opportunities on the island. In this phase of the relaxation of the precautionary measures, it is important that the consequences thereof are quickly identified.

Of the sixteen Covid-19 patients, fourteen are safe. One patient is still in the Curaçao Medical Center (CMC) and one died in March. The lockdown can largely be lifted because no new infections have been recorded since April 24 and only three corona patients have been hospitalized so far. The test capacity was expanded, but hardly any patients presented themselves during the lockdown. On April 24, 304 people had been tested and yesterday there were 389. "At the GPs, fewer and fewer people report symptoms of infectious diseases," says Gerstenbluth. “People with, for example, a cold or stomach flu, but also with symptoms of Covid-19. That is proof that the measures have had an effect. We can assume that there are few cases on the island.”