In the Members Update published on 08 April 2020 we informed you about the steps undertaken to make voluntary COVID-19 testing available to Cargolux pilots.
On 09 April 2020 the LCGB raised the issue on the political level in two letters; one addressed at the Minister of Health and the other at the Minister in charge of transport:
Letter Minister of Health
Letter Minister of Mobility and Public Works
Already on 05 April 2020 your concerns were addressed in a letter to the CEO, requesting „… that Senior Management is in touch with the Luxembourg Government to enable pilots to access established mobile COVID-19 facilities for testing.“ Click here to view this letter. The CEO replied to this letter on 06 April 2020: “I will try to raise it with the Health authorities but cannot guarantee any positive outcome”. Click here to view his letter. Until today we did not receive any feedback from management, if the request to make COVID-19 testing available to crew members has been raised with the health authorities.
No feedback has been received so far on the letters sent by the LCGB to the ministries. We will keep you informed about any developments.
Here is some general information regarding COVID-19 testing:
Luxembourg’s health authorities advise, that a COVID-19 test is of no use in the absence of symptoms and that a personal physician is in the best position to assess the value of the test in individual cases. More information can be found here.
Scientists highlight, that like any other comparable test, a COVID-19 test is just a snapshot. The result reflects only the situation at the time the swap test was conducted (blood tests offered on the internet are not yet approved, as their validity has not yet been scientifically proven) and there is a chance of false results, e.g. due to a very low number of viruses detectable. All this may give the false impression of being negative, while an infection may be in a very early stage. Additionally, it may take up to 48 hours to receive a test result.
