Corona tests in Bavaria have been chargeable for twelve days.
In the Freising district, demand is changing, and some offers are being scrutinized.
District
- The Free State has discontinued the free Corona test offer since October 11th.
Since then, those who have not been vaccinated or recovered have had to pay for quick and PCR tests out of their own pocket.
After the first few days, changes are already becoming apparent at the test stations in the Freising district.
(By the way: Everything from the region is now also available in our regular Freising newsletter.)
The 3Gplus rule now applies to a large number of leisure activities and events: a quick test is of no use here.
This is also noticed by BRK and Johanniter, who operate the rapid test stations for 15 euros per smear in Au, Allershausen, Moosburg and Neufahrn.
"The number of people to be tested is falling," reports BRK district manager Albert Söhl.
In the Moosburger Hopfenhalle, for example, the inflow has halved.
80 people came on Friday, 60 on each of the two weekend days, especially on Sunday many parents with children.
“Before it was twice as many.” In Neufahrn, where tests are always carried out on Mondays, the number has halved.
Among those to be tested are not only those who have not been vaccinated, but also those who do not yet have full vaccination protection, Söhl recalls.
Rapid tests passé faster than expected
Heinrich Märkl, head of the Johanniter local group in Allershausen, reports something similar. “The influx was significantly lower than in the months before. Last Wednesday we had 13 tests. On peak days it was 140. “The break-in was not a big surprise. “For most events, etc., PCR tests are now needed.” However, the fact that the demand for rapid tests is declining so quickly came unexpectedly. "I thought that the rapid tests would not expire until the end of the year."
Now those responsible at BRK and Johanniter want to get together in the middle of next week and discuss the future of the test stations. Märkl makes no secret of the fact that the end of the test stations would definitely bring relief for his team. “Our volunteers have been on duty for over a year and a half.” In addition, the Johanniter are not only in demand due to corona, but also when there are alarms such as the recent Penny fire in Allershausen. “We don't need to unnecessarily burden our volunteers any longer,” says Märkl.
While the demand for tests is on the one hand decreasing, on the other hand Helmut Harrer, who runs a private test station on Freisinger Weizengasse, is seeing more visitors again.
"Every day was even busier than the day before," he reports about the past week.
There was no discernible pattern among those to be tested, families, young and old alike, took advantage of the offer.
"A colorful mix," says Harrer.
Some would have the swab done before vacation.
He assumes that the number in this segment will increase with the approaching autumn holidays.
High costs for the laboratory
The rapid tests are currently responsible for 15 euros each to ensure that Harrer makes ends meet financially.
“Last week they were in the high double-digit range.” He didn't do many PCR tests, “maybe ten”.
The operator of the test station is not surprised.
“120 euros are just too expensive, I wouldn't afford that myself either.
This is not a permanent solution. ”The problem is the laboratory:“ The costs are already half that. ”Therefore, he is currently looking for another laboratory to push the price down - but that is not going to be easy.
“There would be one right across from our location on Weizengasse, which would of course be ideal.
But they didn't want me because I didn't do enough tests, ”says the operator.
Zollinger Center opens again
A cheaper PCR test option will be available from this Friday, October 22nd, in Zolling.
The community will reopen the test center there - on a trial basis on Friday from 3pm to 6pm.
There are not only quick tests for 15 euros, but also PCR tests for 82.61 euros.
The latter price is made up of two components.
“On the one hand, 15 euros in cash have to be paid to the rapid test center at the appointment.
On the other hand, the responsible laboratory, Synlab, bills the remaining 67.61 euros, ”the announcement said.
Registration takes place at schnelltestzentrum-zolling.de.
Fewer unvaccinated people in the night café
Keyword PCR test: This is also necessary for all unvaccinated people who want to party at the Freising night café on the weekend.
Owner Max Riemensperger also notices that for many partygoers, 120 euros is too much just for proof.
"Through the admission controls, we can see exactly: The number of guests who come with a test has been reduced by almost half from the first weekend, when the tests were free, to the second."
In addition, some guests did not receive the PCR test results in time.
The problem: “If you go to the test earlier, the evidence is only sufficient for Friday, but not for Saturday.” Riemensperger therefore advocates extending the validity of a PCR test from 48 to 72 hours.
"Then you would be safe for the weekend."
Good to know
The District Office has published an overview of all PCR and rapid test stations in the district here.