For the fight against corona infections, free quick tests are now again possible for everyone.
Berlin (dpa) – As of Saturday, the federal government will again be introducing the “Citizens Test”, which was severely restricted just a month ago, on a broad front, as a regulation by the Managing Minister of Health Jens Spahn (CDU) stipulates. This means that everyone is again entitled to at least one rapid test per week by trained staff – regardless of their vaccination or convalescence status. The test certificates can also serve as evidence of access rules to certain indoor spaces and events.
Spahn had made it clear that from the beginning of next week, the on-site offer should gradually be expanded again and more tests will become available. After the free “citizen tests” were largely stopped on October 11, test sites were abandoned in many places. Existing providers can now continue their work. The federal states can also commission other test centers.
Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) and the Prime Ministers had initially decided that the offer of the “Citizens’ Test”, which has been financed by the federal government since March, expires on October 11th. At that time, the reason was that taxpayers would end up assuming the test costs on a permanent basis because of the availability of vaccinations. Since then, tests have mostly had to be paid for yourself, but they should remain free for the time being for people who cannot be vaccinated.
Significant costs through free trials
The paid tests should also be an incentive to opt for a free vaccination. The ministry explained that since the federal-state decision to abolish the “citizen tests” on August 10, almost six million people have received a first vaccination.
Rapid tests should now play a greater role again in combating corona in autumn and winter. This is targeted, for example, with access rules only for vaccinated, convalescent and tested people (3G) at the workplace – or the 2G plus principle, i.e. access only for vaccinated and convalescent people (2G) to events with an additional test.
The free tests have already resulted in considerable costs for the federal government. Since the beginning of a separate recording of the “citizen tests” by the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians at the beginning of July, more than 870 million euros have been billed for it.
