The Covid-19 screening centre that opened on 11 May in the self-service areas of the European Parliament in Strasbourg closed this Friday in advance of its scheduled closure at the end of July. “In light of the significant improvement in the health situation and the reduction in the spread of the virus in the Bas-Rhin department and, in particular, in the Eurometropolis, the decision was taken in the European Parliament to close the centre on 3 July”, declared the institution, the prefecture, the City and the Agence Régionale de Santé Grand Est in a joint press release.
In reality, the use of this facility has been much lower than expected: The facility, with a capacity of 2,000, tested 40 to 70 asymptomatic people daily. Asked by the local press, Dr Roger Wolff, coordinator of the centre, acknowledged that the system set up at the European Parliament is “clearly disproportionate” in view of this low level of use, but stressed that in the event of a second wave, the situation would be “difficult to manage” without this screening facility.
The Parliament’s monthly plenaries, which have been suspended since last March due to the health crisis, are due to resume in September, according to a schedule that includes five sessions in Strasbourg by the end of the year. (Original version in French by Véronique Leblanc)