Italian police said on Tuesday that they had discovered dozens of irregular novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing centres, some of which used out-of-date products or failed to officially register positive cases.
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Some 285 facilities were screened in a nationwide operation, resulting in 94 irregularities detected in 67 centres, the NAS health squad of the Carabinieri police said in a statement.
In 14 per cent of cases, testing centres omitted or delayed communication to regional health authorities about positive test results, scuppering national test and tracing efforts.
Some 60 per cent of offences were related to the non-observance of health protocols for the containment of the epidemic, the Carabinieri added.
They mentioned cases of reagents and other COVID-19 testing ingredients being stored at the wrong temperature or being past their expiry date.
Officers also found an herbal medicine shop in the northern province of Bologna selling unlicensed Chinese DIY Coronavirus test kits.
The owner was fined 10,000 euros (12,000 dollars).
Italy is one of the countries worst affected by the pandemic.
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It has recorded more than 1.6 million Coronavirus infections and around 55,500 deaths linked to COVID-19.