Infected with Sars-CoV-2 or not? A corona virus test brings certainty. If you are not classified as a suspected case, you have to pay yourself. Find out here how the test works.
To date, 113,672 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed worldwide. 4,012 dead are sued (as of March 10, 2020). In the meantime, the novel corona virus, which triggers the lung disease COVID-19, has spread all over the world - more and more infections with the pathogen Sars-CoV-2 are also occurring in Germany. 1,139 cases are known nationwide, two people died as a result.
The federal government and the health authorities advise on precautionary measures such as thorough hand hygiene * and keeping away from sick people. Anyone who has been in risk areas such as Italy, has had contact with infected people and now suffers from typical symptoms of a coronavirus infection * should know the following rules.
Coronavirus test pays the cash register - if there is suspicion
In order to stop the virus from spreading, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) as the federal higher authority for infectious diseases and non-communicable diseases strongly advises not to go to the doctor with symptoms *. People who have had contact with patients with corona infection or who were in risk areas should also call their doctor or the emergency medical service at 116 117 so that the person concerned can be examined either in practice or at home in isolation . The aim is to avert the risk that the virus will spread to the doctor's office or emergency room.
If there is reasonable suspicion, the treating physician will initiate a coronavirus test. By the end of February, the health insurance companies had only covered the costs for certain patients. The decision is now up to the doctor. If a patient does not show any typical corona symptoms and still wants to be tested, however, he has to bear the cost of the test himself . These can range from 59 to 200 euros.
More on the subject : Quarantine due to COVID-19? You have to consider that now .
Nose and throat swab: Corona test delivers results in five hours
According to the Ministry of Social Affairs, any resident doctor can take test samples. The health insurance company will undertake the corona test for the following risk groups :
- People who have typical symptoms of a coronavirus infection and have been in a risk area within the past 14 days
- People who have typical symptoms of a coronavirus infection and who have had to deal with an infected person
For a test for Sars-CoV-2, samples are taken from the upper and deep airways, the RKI explains. To do this, a doctor inserts a so-called virus swab deep into the mouth and nose. Cough sputum samples can also be taken as part of the coronavirus test. These are then examined for the coronavirus by means of molecular biological tests in diagnostic laboratories .
According to the editorial network Germany, it takes a maximum of five hours until the test results are determined . Initially only carried out at the Charité in Berlin, corona virus tests can now also be evaluated in university clinics in almost all federal states and special laboratories across Germany.
Sources: www.rnd.de; www.rki.de; www.experience.arcqis.com; www.rnz.de
Read more : Corona virus in Germany: What everyone can do to avoid becoming infected.
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* merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network .