Coronavirus: Covid test-site managers warned over privacy violations

The personal data protection commissioner on Tuesday warned managers of rapid antigen testing locations to ensure staff do not shout out personal info of tested individuals when handing over test results.

In a written statement, Irene Loizidou Nicolaidou said that it had repeatedly come to her attention that at some rapid test sites, staff working there would call out personal details of individuals who have undergone a test when handing over the result.

“This practice creates risks for affected individuals and violates the provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation,” she said,

“Therefore, and because I believe that some self-evident practices must be adhered to voluntarily and not because a censure may be imposed, I am issuing a warning to managers of the centres to stop this practice, for the protection of citizens,” she said.

More than 402,000 rapid antigen tests were carried out in the period from February 1 to 14, within the framework of the screening programmes of the general population and employees being carried out by the Ministry of Health.

The main aim of the programmes is the continuous epidemiological surveillance of the country in real time and the timely intervention in case the epidemiological indicators aggravate.