After one year, six months and 27 days, the last massive testing center in the city of Córdoba closes: the former municipal Civil Registry, located at 1775 Colón Avenue.
Since June 15, 2021, when it opened as a 24-hour swab center, 448,568 tests were carried out there, according to the last record taken by the municipal system, this Thursday at 3:40 p.m.
Last in his lineage, he survived the closures of the other massive centers that functioned, in a pandemic, as a sampling site for PCR diagnoses or rapid tests, such as the Convention Center, the University Dining Hall or the Orfeo.
Since epidemiological week 23 -which began on June 5 of last year-, throughout the country there has been a non-universal testing strategy, to respond to a consistent de-escalation in the number of infections and in the occupancy of beds in the hospital system.
“The truth is that it no longer makes sense in the current epidemiological situation and what we want is to reinstate the need for medical consultation. Cases have appeared in which we are tested, this reassures us because it is negative, we go home and have pneumonia within a week and it is not caused by Covid. Or we have a case of dengue, which has similar symptoms and that the Covid test is going to be negative, which does not mean that precautions should not be taken, ”explained the secretary of Prevention and Municipal Health Care, Liliana Montero.
Before Christmas was the last moment of great demand for swabs in the ex-Registry. In those days prior to the family reunion, more than a thousand daily tests were carried out. But, after the end of the year holidays, the demand for swabs fell steadily in this building. In the first days of January, the number of daily tests does not exceed 200 people, they point out from the municipality.
This is what motivated the announcement: “Starting this Friday, January 13, the building will stop working as a swab center, but it will continue to be open as a vaccination center from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.,” reads the official statement that will be released in the coming weeks. hours.
Despite the low perception of risk and the sanitary consideration of the Covid-19 virus as one more respiratory infection than those that occur at this time, the authorities insisted on the need to apply booster vaccines, on maintaining self-care measures and Go to the doctor in case of symptoms for evaluation.
“Not only is there no longer a demand that justifies it, but it is necessary to install the idea that it is the doctor who indicates whether or not a Covid test is appropriate. It is the line that is indicated both from the Nation and from the Province, which indicates that the strategy for this moment is to reinforce vaccination, especially in children and young people, “Montero remarked.
The most common reason for requesting the test was the need to have a certificate to justify isolation or work absenteeism.
“If you feel bad, you have to go to the doctor to get the certificate. It is the doctor who evaluates whether or not there are clinical criteria to carry out a test, and if appropriate, he issues you a certificate, as happens with any other disease,” Montero explained.
With the medical request, any resident can request the test at municipal or provincial public health centers or at private institutions. There are stock Enough of diagnostic kits, they say from the states.
“full” vaccination
The former municipal Civil Registry will function, from this Friday, only as a vaccination.
Both in this building and in the rest of the health centers, the provision of doses of Moderna and Pfizer vaccines is guaranteed.
The reinforcements are indicated after four months (120 days) from the last application. The focus at this stage is on people over 50 with comorbidities and on children. Recently, a meeting of the National Immunization Commission (Conai) approved the application of boosters for children and adolescents, who are the age group with the lowest level of coverage, even with first doses.
In all cases, attention is by order of arrival and with ID. Although it is not essential, since the registry is digitized, it is recommended to carry the vaccination card.
In turn, to facilitate access, the Secretariat for Prevention and Community Health Care will participate in the Right to Summer program with mobile vaccinations in the sports fields. The same will be done in the activities carried out in municipal swimming pools and in educational parks.
“The measure is in line with the provisions of national and provincial authorities, which, together with medical consultation in case of symptoms, place vaccination as the most appropriate epidemiological tool at this stage to avoid serious forms of the disease,” they said from the municipal state.
Where is vaccinated in the city of Córdoba
- At municipal health centers, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- In the former Civil Registry, from Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.