Boosted by the extension of the health pass, the number of Covid-19 screening tests remained at a record level close to 6 million last week.
"The number of tests stabilizes at the highest", with just under 5.7 million PCR and antigen tests validated between August 16 and 22, said the statistical service of the ministry (Drees) in a press release on Thursday.
This is almost as much as the previous week, marked by the extension of the health pass to cafes, restaurants and trains, which had exploded the demand to more than 5.7 million tests, against 4.2 million at the beginning of August.
Antigenic tests, abundantly offered in many street corners, without an appointment, have represented two-thirds of the volume for two weeks, while PCRs remain limited by the analytical capacities of medical biology laboratories.
In mid-October, the tests will become paid
The screening system should remain in great demand at the start of the school year because, on Wednesday evening, 42,421,921 people in France had a complete vaccination schedule, and because the health pass will be compulsory from Monday for employees in the catering, cinema and other industries. of some shopping centers.
#Vaccination # COVID19 |
As of 25 August:
✔47,947,092 people have received a first injection
✔42,421,921 people have a complete vaccination schedule
- Ministry of Solidarity and Health (@Sante_Gouv) August 25, 2021
In addition, from the end of next week will be added saliva tests in primary schools.
The government has set a target of achieving 600,000 each week.
Last spring, the department struggled to meet the targets.
The pressure should remain until mid-October, when the tests will become chargeable (unless they are justified by a medical opinion).
For the moment, they are not “free” as many pharmacies claim, but are 100% covered by Social Security without advance payment.
It costs around 44 euros for a PCR and 25 euros for an antigen from the Social Security budget.
4.9 billion euros have been budgeted in 2021 to cover the cost of the tests.
