All Moscow residents will be able to take a coronavirus test for free from July 16

All Muscovites will be able to take a PCR test for COVID-19 free of charge in clinics in the capital. Tests will begin on July 16, RIA Novosti reported , citing Deputy Mayor Anastasia Rakova.

According to Rakova, on average up to 50 thousand PCR tests can be carried out in the city per day. To take tests for the presence of coronavirus, points will be opened in 207 clinics in the city.

“Now, when the number of cases is sharply decreasing, we have free capacity, and we have the opportunity to redistribute it to other areas. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin decided that starting tomorrow, everyone who wants to undergo PCR tests for coronavirus infection can do so freely and free of charge,” Rakova said.

According to her, there is the necessary capacity to conduct tests for all Muscovites who wish to do so. In addition, children will be able to get tested for coronavirus. For this purpose, special treatment rooms will be opened in 45 city clinics.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, about 4.3 million tests for coronavirus have been done in the capital, the vice mayor noted. According to operational data as of July 15, a total of 231,270 cases of COVID-19 infection have been identified in Moscow, with 628 people falling ill over the past 24 hours.

On May 15, mass testing (screening) for the presence of antibodies to the new coronavirus infection began in the capital. According to the results of this study in June, almost 20% of Muscovites tested were immune to the disease.