Before the concert for a quick test – free of charge in the test center around the corner. For many, this is a simple means of increasing safety in Corona times. The federal government is now restricting the expensive offer.
Corona citizen tests used millions of times will soon no longer be available free of charge for everyone in test centers and pharmacies.
The quick tests are only free for certain risk groups – but as a rule, three euros each will be due from your own pocket from next Thursday. Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) announced this on Friday after reaching an agreement with Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP). The federal government wants to reduce costs billions and preserve the test network. The new regulation puts the states under pressure to take over the three euros of the citizens. In view of the now dominant sub-variant BA.5 with easier transferability, a more tense corona situation is emerging from the expert’s point of view.
End of free trials for everyone
Lauterbach said: “I don’t want to hide it. I would have liked to have continued the free citizen tests for everyone.” On average, however, they currently cost one billion euros a month. Lindner said the use of taxpayers’ money would now be more effective. “Not everything can be paid for by the federal government in the long run because our possibilities have reached their limits.” According to Lauterbach, the new concept envisages spending of 2.7 billion euros by the end of the year. If the full assumption of costs had continued, it would have been up to 5 billion euros.
Overall, Lauterbach spoke of a “good solution”. The citizen tests continued without gaps after the previous regulation expired at the end of June, which was controversial. The tests would be used more specifically where they would have the greatest benefit. So far, everyone was entitled to at least one rapid test per week in test centers with trained staff, including a certificate, even without symptoms or a specific reason. The free tests for everyone were temporarily restricted in autumn and then widely reintroduced.
Free tests and three euro tests
Free rapid tests should continue to be possible for vulnerable groups. According to the ministry, these are children up to five years of age, women at the beginning of pregnancy, visitors to clinics and nursing homes, household members of infected people, residents of facilities for people with disabilities and people who cannot be vaccinated. It should be provided that evidence is submitted that one is entitled to the free test – for example by means of an ID card or passport, with certificates, forms or certificates.
With an additional payment of three euros, tests should be available in other cases. For example, before attending events indoors or visiting older people, after risk contacts in the event of a warning on the Corona app. For these subsidized tests, you should also put your name on a list at the test center and state the reason.
The payment – and countries under pressure
Citizens can pay the three euros in the test center or pharmacy in the normal way in cash or by card. For providers, the “reimbursement price” is to be reduced from 11.50 euros to 9.50 euros: in addition to the three euros, 6.50 euros come from the federal government. The federal states have the option of taking on the citizen’s share of the tests, said Lauterbach. This is also a way of reacting to larger corona outbreaks, for example. SPD parliamentary group leader Dagmar Schmidt said: “I would be very happy if the federal states would contribute to the costs and thus enable free citizen tests.”
However, the heads of state departments had only signaled the day before after a conference with Lauterbach that they saw no scope for cost sharing. The traffic light housekeepers Karsten Klein (FDP), Svenja Stadler (SPD) and Paula Piechotta (Greens) complained that no viable agreement on joint financing could be reached. The German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) warned: “Infection protection must not depend on the wallet.” The countries would have to assume their responsibility and accept the three euros.
Corona search for traces and more controls
“We want to continue to break chains of infection with the citizen tests in the future,” said Lauterbach. It is to be expected that the number of tests will decrease. The German Foundation for Patient Protection warned against excluding those in need of care at home and their relatives from free preventive tests. “The heads of government of the countries are required to correct the error by assuming the costs for these particularly vulnerable people,” said board member Eugen Brysch.
The new concept should also react to various cases of billing fraud with tests. Among other things, the control frequency should be increased, as Lauterbach said.
Dominant variant BA.5 – summer wave is rolling
As expected, the more easily transmissible omicrom subline BA.5 is now also dominant in Germany according to official data. The proportion in a sample from the week before last was 50 percent, according to the weekly report from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). Higher values can already be assumed at the moment. This is driving the Corona summer wave. According to the RKI, the seven-day incidence was now 618.2 – after 532.9 reported new infections per 100,000 inhabitants in seven days the day before and 427.8 a week ago.
Virologist Christian Drosten said he expected a large number of new cases after the summer holidays. If nothing is done, there will be many illness-related absences in working life, he told the “Spiegel”. “The BA.5 variant is just very transmissible, and at the same time people lose their transmission protection from the last vaccination.” In other countries you can see that with very high case numbers, the number of hospitalizations and deaths also increased. That will also be the case in Germany, but far fewer people will become seriously ill and die than in 2021.
Source: Stern
David William is a talented author who has made a name for himself in the world of writing. He is a professional author who writes on a wide range of topics, from general interest to opinion news. David is currently working as a writer at 24 hours worlds where he brings his unique perspective and in-depth research to his articles, making them both informative and engaging.
