Covid, the mandatory swab is back: here's where and who must do it

Anti-Covid swabs are mandatory again but not for everyone and only for access to some spaces.
This is the first anti-Covid measure adopted by the Ministry of Health in light of the sudden increase in infections, caused by the numerous variants present in Italy and the rest of Europe.
Weeks after the sudden increase in Covid infections – 56,404 new cases were recorded in the last week from 7 to 13 December alone – and the ever-increasing circulation of respiratory viruses, which filled the pediatric wards in Milan, the Ministry decided to take the reins into our own hands to ensure we protect the most fragile categories.
The decision comes after experts estimated that the peak of Covid and flu infections would be reached during the holidays: between Christmas and New Year.
The ministerial circular, signed by the director general of Prevention of the Ministry of Health, Francesco Vaia, aims to expand and strengthen the monitoring of Sars-Cov-2 viruses and trace all respiratory diseases that are circulating.
But for whom are anti-Covid tests mandatory? And in what situations is it mandatory to carry them out? Let's dispel any doubts by explaining what the circular establishes.
Below is everything you need to know about mandatory swabs.
read also Covid, variants compared: symptoms and differences between Pirola, Eris and JN.1 Mandatory anti-Covid swabs: here's for whom and where The increase in cases and the approach of a possible peak of Covid infections has pushed the Ministry of Health to sign a circular to indicate the need to carry out anti-Covid tests and other diagnostic tests.
In the circular we can read that: for people who present symptoms with a clinical picture compatible with Covid-19, it is indicated to carry out diagnostic tests for Sars-CoV-2, influenza viruses, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), rhinovirus, parainfluenza viruses , adenovirus, metapneumovirus, bocavirus and other human coronaviruses other than Sars-CoV-2, as indicated by international bodies, WHO and ECDC.
Therefore, anti-Covid tests are once again mandatory for those who are symptomatic and must access hospitals and RSAs.
In fact, the ministry explained that considering "the current clinical-epidemiological trend of the Sars-CoV-2 infection" it is essential that healthcare facilities activate and strengthen increasingly broad epidemiological surveillance paths.
The circular also reiterates the importance of: strengthening the RespiVirNet surveillance system especially in the Regions that have not reached the population coverage expected last season; activate virological surveillance in the Regions where it is not yet present and that it be implemented in the Regions where it is present.
read also Mandatory masks, where and when Covid, boom in cases: who is most at risk? Positive cases of Covid are increasing and according to the data, experts have estimated that the peak of infections should occur during the holidays between Christmas and New Year.
Remaining firm on the latest available data, in the last week alone from 7 to 13 December, 56,404 new cases were recorded with a variation of -3.8% compared to the previous week (58,637), but the number of swabs carried out also decreased to 279,323, i.e.
-1.9% compared to the previous week (284,806); this also leads to a positivity rate of 20.2%, down 0.4 percentage points compared to the previous survey (20.6%).
The deaths recorded were 316, +1% compared to the previous week (313).
Faced with this mosaic, we must also add the incidence of flu-like syndromes which has remained stable in Italy, which in the last week stood at 11.1 cases per thousand assisted (compared to 11.0 in the last bulletin), with a prevalence of Rhinovirus and a still small percentage of actual influenza viruses according to the RespiVirNet surveillance bulletins published on Saturday.
The incidence is stable in all age groups, but once again the people who are most affected by the flu and Covid are the most fragile categories, especially children under five years of age, in whom the incidence of flu-like syndromes is equal to 25.2 cases per thousand assisted (compared to 24.8 in the previous week).
One more reason to carry out anti-Covid swabs before going to hospitals and RSAs, in order to expose the elderly and fragile patients to a lower risk of contagion.
read also Covid or flu, the symptoms: doctors' advice to avoid contagion