Since October 11th, corona tests have generally been chargeable in Germany.
That should now change again.
Free rapid tests will be offered in just a few days.
Berlin - People in Germany should probably be able to do at least one free corona rapid test per week again from next week.
According to a draft ordinance by the acting Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn (CDU), it should be prevented that people forego tests due to financial considerations, as the German Press Agency learned on Wednesday from government circles.
The newspapers of the Funke media group first reported on it, citing the draft.
Since October 11th, corona tests have generally been chargeable in Germany.
The new regulation should come into force next week, it said.
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Hospitalization incidence in the southwest is increasing slightly
The so-called hospitalization incidence, which plays an important role in assessing the corona situation, has increased slightly in Baden-Württemberg.
On Thursday (as of 4 p.m.) it was 2.2 according to the State Health Office after 2.05 the previous day.
The value indicates the number of corona patients per 100,000 inhabitants who were admitted to a clinic in the southwest within a week.
Hospitalization incidence in the southwest is increasing slightly
According to the plans, all citizens should in future be entitled to a free test at least once a week.
Vaccinated people could also become infected with the coronavirus "and thus pose a risk, especially for vulnerable groups of people," according to the draft.
Providers can continue their activities.
In addition, only medical supply stores or drug stores should be commissioned.
It should no longer be possible to commission other providers.
The reason for this is that a new uncontrolled emergence of test stations should be prevented.
According to the ordinance, the federal government expects up to 8 million euros for on-site services and 3.5 million euros for material costs for each million tests.
The draft also stipulates that hospitals must indicate the vaccination status of their patients and the number of pregnant women in intensive care.
In the future, the clinics should also be obliged to report both their capacity of intensive care beds and the number of their corona patients, differentiated according to adults and children, on a daily basis.
dpa