Test stations have sprung up like mushrooms during the Corona crisis.
The quick smear is now part of everyday life.
But the offer should not stay free forever.
Berlin - The currently numerous offers for free coronavirus rapid tests should be discontinued sooner or later.
"Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn said weeks ago that he thought it would be conceivable not to offer the tests free of charge to unvaccinated people at a later date. The exact time has yet to be determined, ”said the Federal Ministry of Health on Saturday upon request. As reported from government circles, there is still no agreement.
Federal Finance Minister Olaf Scholz (SPD) told the newspapers of the Funke media group: "Corona tests should be chargeable if everyone could have been vaccinated - in a few weeks." Of course, exceptions would have to apply to those who cannot be vaccinated for health reasons as well as for children and adolescents.
Schleswig-Holstein's Prime Minister Daniel Günther (CDU) also called on the federal government to charge for corona tests as soon as possible.
ADVERTISEMENT FOR VACCINATING:
Politics and associations are massively promoting the corona vaccinations.
SPD boss Saskia Esken told the editorial network Germany (RND / Saturday): "I am promoting sending vaccination vehicles to schools in order - in consultation with the parents - to make vaccination as easy as possible for young people."
In the coming week the summer holidays will end in the first federal states, in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg the lessons will then start again with face-to-face.
City Council General Manager Helmut Dedy told the German Press Agency: "In order to ensure classroom attendance, we appeal to the federal states to make more vaccinations possible in schools." This could be a contribution to the protection of young people and fewer infections Coronavirus in schools.
In some cases, such actions are already planned.
IMPREATE RATE:
61.6 percent (51.2 million people) in Germany have now been vaccinated against the corona virus at least once, as Federal Health Minister Spahn (CDU) tweeted on Saturday.
52 percent (43.2 million) are therefore fully vaccinated.
One in five young people has now had their first vaccination.
In absolute numbers there are 900,000.
In May, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved the Covid-19 vaccine from Biontech / Pfizer for children and adolescents from the age of twelve, and the approval for Moderna followed a few days ago.
For Germany, however, the Standing Vaccination Commission has so far only recommended vaccination for children and adolescents with certain previous illnesses who have an increased risk of a severe course.
The reasons given by the Stiko were a lack of data on the safety of the vaccine.
According to experts, vaccination numbers are far too low to keep the fourth wave rolling flat in the face of the rampant, highly contagious Delta virus variant.
And the vaccination rate is slowing: At the moment, a good half a million vaccine doses are still administered on many days, in May / June it was in some cases around 1.5 million.
TESTS FOR RETURNERS:
As of this Sunday, foreign holidaymakers aged twelve and over must generally show a negative corona test on their return.
This obligation does not apply to those who have been vaccinated or who have recovered - unless someone comes from an area in which new, worrying coronavirus variants are circulating.
CORONA AIDS:
Federal Finance Minister Olaf Scholz (SPD) calls for an extension of the Corona aid at least until the end of the year. "Nobody should stumble shortly before the rescue," said the SPD chancellor candidate in the newspapers of the Funke media group (Saturday). Aid such as the short-time work regulation and economic aid are limited to September 30th. “I want to extend both of these until the end of the year. We may also have to help one or the other company in the next year. ”Dpa