It only took a few hours this Saturday for Aldi, in Germany, to see its stocks of antigenic tests exhausted.
"We want to assure all those who left empty-handed that new stocks are expected in the coming days," wanted to reassure a spokesperson for Aldi at the German newspaper Bild.
In one of the Aldi stores, the newspaper said, there was nothing left after twelve minutes when, this Saturday, it was their first day of marketing!
Lidl saw its website saturated as soon as these kits were put online.
The sale of these tests in these stores is not a communication blow from the brands.
The German government is counting on the massive practice of antigenic tests to carry out its strategy of progressive deconfinement and reopening.
To do this, all Germans will be entitled from Monday to one free antigen test per week, carried out by professionals in pharmacists or approved test centers.
Several manufacturers have also received the green light for home testing kits.
The aim is to give the population more freedom after months of restrictions, but experts stress that rapid tests are less reliable than PCR tests and that protective measures must be maintained even if the test is negative.
Tests in mass distribution that question
The demand is so strong that Aldi has set limits.
The purchase of a single package of five tests per person is permitted.
The tests will also go on sale at major pharmacies and other establishments across the country in the coming days.
The timing, however, questions across the Rhine: large retailers managed to have these tests even before the authorities.
"I do not understand why rapid tests are already sold by discount chains, but still have to be ordered for nurseries and schools" lamented Manuela Schwesig, Social Democratic Minister-President of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
These tests should not be sold in France as is.
In recent days, the Directorate General of Health explained to the Parisian that they did not intend, for the time being, to develop self-tests.
These tests are sold in Germany for 24.99 euros for five tests at Aldi and 21.99 euros at Lidl.
In France, they are free because they are fully reimbursed.
A price against which even Lidl would find it difficult to compete.
