Athens Municipality Conducts Rapid Covid-19 Tests on the Homeless

In efforts to limit the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, the Municipality of Athens is conducting rapid tests and temperature checks on the city’s homeless population.

Last week, the medical team of the city’s reception and solidarity center – KYADA – carried out a total of 70 rapid rapid tests on homeless people, on the streets of the capital and in the KYADA facilities. All tests came back negative.

According to an announcement by the municipality, rapid tests are carried out on a daily basis in order to identify any positive cases and to transfer those infected to the city’s Covid-19 reference hospitals.

“With these daily actions we protect vulnerable groups and public health,” the municipality said.

The nursing staff that is working around the clock on the streets of the capital has been trained by the doctors of KYADA on the Covid-19 testing process and on the ways to handle incidents. The staff has also been completely informed on the current national and international health protocols and on the chronic diseases that are common among homeless people based on data collected during the past year by KYADA.

Apart from rapid tests, the KYADA teams continue to provide the homeless with clothes and food, masks and antiseptics.