Citizens have had to pay for their corona test themselves for a month. That should change now. From next week everyone should be able to do at least one free quick test per week.
The free corona tests are expected to be available again from next week. The goal is to let them start again, a spokesman for the Federal Ministry of Health told the AFP news agency in Berlin on Wednesday. The newspapers of the Funke media group also reported that the relevant regulation should come into force next week.
According to the plans, all citizens should in future be entitled to a free test at least once a week, reported the Funke newspapers. Free tests are particularly relevant in light of the fact that vaccinated people could also become infected with the coronavirus “and thus represent a risk in particular for vulnerable groups of people”, according to the information in the regulation. With the reintroduction of the offer for asymptomatic persons it will be ensured that everyone “can take advantage of existing test facilities if necessary”.
Rapid tests only in medical supply stores and drug stores
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 a new uncontrolled emergence of test stations should be prevented.
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 citizen tests.
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.
The corona rapid tests are no longer free of charge since October 11th.
Source From: Stern
