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Note on corona test in Bavaria: The vaccination rate is still too low despite the sometimes high prices for tests
Photo: Ralph Peters / imago images / Ralph Peters
With the end of the free corona tests, politicians wanted to make it annoying and expensive for unvaccinated people.
But the vaccination rate could not be increased to the level hoped for.
In view of the increasingly serious infection situation in Germany, there are now indications that the free tests will be reintroduced.
"The abolition of the free citizen tests was a mistake," said the parliamentary manager of the FDP parliamentary group, Marco Buschmann, the editorial network Germany.
And: "Their reintroduction would help to break the chains of infection more quickly."
Janosch Dahmen, health policy spokesman for the Greens, also spoke out in the »Welt« in favor of returning to free tests, but warned for improvements: »When returning to free citizen tests, test results must be bindingly readable via QR code and, for example, by organizers or restaurateurs as in our neighboring countries are controlled exclusively digitally. "
The free Corona citizen tests were only abolished a month ago.
In the meantime, the German Medical Association, the head of the Greens Robert Habeck, the German Association of Cities and the trade association have already spoken out in favor of the reintroduction.
Despite incidence over 200: Göring-Eckardt against prolongation of epidemic situation
Despite everything, it is still unclear whether there will actually be a corresponding change in the test regulation.
In other areas, on the other hand, the possibly future traffic light coalition will certainly come forward.
Even if they have not yet been able to agree on the framework conditions for joint government cooperation, the SPD, FDP and the Greens already want to present a bill to amend the Infection Protection Act.
"On Monday we will submit a bill to parliament to adequately and decisively combat Corona," said SPD parliamentary group vice-president Dirk Wiese of the "world".
Green parliamentary group leader Katrin Göring-Eckardt said on Sunday evening on the ARD program »Anne Will«: »We'll say that tomorrow in Parliament, of course, and the parliamentary groups first«.
The Bundestag wants to discuss a new Infection Protection Act on Thursday in the first reading.
On November 25, the special status of the epidemic situation of national scope expires.
Göring-Eckardt rejected an extension and emphasized that a solution was necessary that was sufficient and also legally secure.
CSU boss Markus Söder replied in the ARD, what the current situation is, if not a pandemic.
No nationwide 2G rule?
The traffic light parties may want to forego a nationwide 2G rule.
As the "Bild am Sonntag" reported, citing negotiating circles, the SPD, Greens and FDP are considering, among other things, a daily test obligation for employees and visitors in nursing homes - regardless of whether they have been vaccinated or recovered.
The board of directors of the German Foundation for Patient Protection, Eugen Brysch, called in the "Bild" newspaper to implement this immediately and not wait until November 25th.
In addition, the obligation to test must apply to the entire care of the elderly, "also for a million people who are cared for by outpatient services at home."
SPD parliamentary group vice Wiese emphasized in the "Bild" newspaper that mandatory testing was already possible.
"We are making it legally clear what is already practiced in some countries."
Göring-Eckardt did not want to comment on details of the new regulation.
On the question of whether there should be a nationwide 2G rule, i.e. access only for vaccinated and convalescent people, she said that, in her view, it could not be made legally certain nationwide.
The Bavarian Prime Minister spoke out in favor of more 2G rules and 3G rules in the workplace.
Göring-Eckardt also described the latter as correct.
apr / dpa