The covid nasal self-tests have already been rolled out in schools, supermarkets, pharmacies. And in companies? "We have been able to obtain 5,000 so far," says Dominique Laurent, PwC Luxembourg managing director. Most are available at the company concierge, where employees can purchase them "at cost price." 

The first 1,300 arrived two weeks ago and at €5 each sold out in a single day. A real "rush", says Laurent. The rest arrived at the end of last week, at a lower price of €3 per self-test. They come from different suppliers, for which PwC had issued a call for tender. Delivery estimate? Approximately one week.

The goal is to offer employees "ease of acquisition". They buy them above all "to reassure themselves", before visiting their family for example, "in compliance with health rules". Or, if in doubt, before heading to the office.

Par for the course 

Another portion of these self-tests will be given to traveling teams. "When five people work for a client, they may have more proximity than at the office," Laurent explains. This only concerns about 15 individuals among the company's 2,930 employees, as remote work is being allowed when possible. They will then be entitled to a weekly covid self-test to ensure proper monitoring and avoid any contamination.

In any case, "the goal is not to test everyone", as the self-test is less reliable than a PCR test. "The first recommendation is not to come." The company offers most of its employees a return to their desks up to two days per week.

When health conditions permit, PwC also plans on offering self-tests to employees who want to organise small corporate events. 

Strategy to be defined  

Construction company CBL also claims to have placed an order for "several thousand" covid self-tests over two weeks ago, although they’re still waiting for them. Will they be used only in case of symptoms? Or for general monitoring of 380 employees? Nothing has been decided yet, explains human resources director Marguerite Thommes. "We will decide together with our occupational health team." But, in the latter case, she says, "we would like support from the ministry of health.”

Asked about this in March, the ministry explained that funding for corporate self-tests was not planned. It has since published its recommendations on the subject, in particular for the choice of suppliers. Jean-Paul Olinger, director of the UEL umbrella organisation representing Luxembourg’s business associations, confirms that this is still a "voluntary exercise for companies", without national funding.

Vaccinate rather than self-test

In the meantime, caterers Oberweis only offers tests to its employees and drivers working in product sales in Germany, as the country requires them. Up to three tests per week for three sales people and one to two drivers, carried out by a person "in charge" of the team. The human resources department then provides a certificate of honour to certify negative self-tests, even if the company hasn’t undergone border control yet. The company buys 25 of them for €125.

In Luxembourg, "if we have to do it, we will do it", explains director Tom Oberweis. Even if he prefers to focus on vaccination, wherever possible--a feeling shared by several companies surveyed who have so far decided against the deployment of covid self-tests.

This article was originally published in French on Paperjam and has been translated and edited for Delano.