The number of infections is increasing dramatically in Germany. Corona rapid tests will soon be available again for everyone free of charge.
Berlin – first for free, then for a fee – and now the role backwards. Probably from next week there will be free corona tests again. The goal is then to let them start again, said a spokesman for the Federal Ministry of Health on Wednesday (November 10, 2021) of the AFP news agency in Berlin. The newspapers of the Funke media group also reported that the relevant regulation should come into force next week.
According to a draft ordinance by the acting Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU *), people should be prevented from doing without Corona * tests due to financial considerations, as the German Press Agency learned from government circles.
Corona tests no longer free of charge since mid-October
According to the plans, all citizens should in future be entitled to a free test at least once a week, reported the Funke newspapers. The corona rapid tests are no longer free of charge since October 11th *.
Free tests are particularly relevant against the background that vaccinated people could also become infected with the coronavirus “and thus pose a risk, especially for vulnerable groups of people,” according to the information in the regulation. The reintroduction of the offer for asymptomatic people will ensure that everyone “can take advantage of the test options available if necessary”.
Free corona tests: Regulation should apply until the end of March 2022
Service providers who are currently carrying out tests should, according to the information, be able to continue their activities. In addition to this, however, unlike in the past, only medical supply stores or drug stores should be commissioned. It should no longer be possible to commission other providers. The background is that another uncontrolled emergence of corona test stations should be prevented. According to the ordinance, the federal government expects up to 8 million euros for on-site services and 3.5 million euros for material costs for each million tests.
The new regulation is expected to apply until the end of March 2022. It is reportedly coordinated with the traffic light parties SPD, Greens and FDP *. According to the draft, the changes are to be decided in the course of the amendment of the Infection Protection Act and the expiry of the epidemic situation of national scope. The SPD, Greens and FDP had already spoken out in favor of returning to the free Corona citizen tests.
Corona pandemic: vaccination numbers give Jens Spahn reason to hope
In addition, Spahn’s regulation provides that hospitals will in future be obliged to report both their capacity of intensive care beds and the number of their corona patients, differentiated according to adults and children, on a daily basis. The hospitals should also have to state the vaccination status of their patients and the number of pregnant women in intensive care.
Jens Spahn, who recently announced that he did not want to run for the CDU chairmanship, was hopeful with a view to the current vaccination numbers. In Germany, as many corona vaccinations were given on Tuesday with 312,000 doses than since August, Spahn said on Twitter. “The direction is right, but not enough to break the dynamic,” wrote the politician. (tvd / AFP / dpa) * fr.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA.
