A month ago, the free corona rapid tests had largely expired.
They can be used again from today.
The reason is the worsening situation again.
Berlin - Free quick tests are now again possible for everyone in the fight against corona infections.
As of Saturday, the federal government will again be introducing the “Citizen Tests”, which was severely restricted just a month ago, on a broad front, as stipulated in an ordinance by the Executive Minister of Health Jens Spahn (CDU).
This means that everyone is again entitled to at least one rapid test per week by trained staff - regardless of their vaccination or convalescence status.
The test certificates can also serve as evidence of access rules to certain indoor spaces and events.
Spahn: The range of on-site testing will be expanded again
Spahn had made it clear that from the beginning of next week, the on-site offer should gradually be expanded again and more tests will become available.
After the free “citizen tests” had largely ended on October 11th, test sites had been abandoned in many places.
Existing providers can now continue their work.
The federal states can also commission other test centers.
The test offer is intended to detect and prevent infections at an early stage.
The number of infections has recently risen steeply.
The situation in the clinics is coming to a head.
In view of the force of the fourth wave, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) calls for a return to massive restrictions.
It called on all citizens to reduce their contacts.
Spahn called for quick countermeasures before federal-state consultations on Thursday.
Seehofer also hopes for nationwide regulations
The acting Federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU) told the “Augsburger Allgemeine” with a view to the meeting that he very much hoped for nationwide regulations. "We must no longer confuse the population." Nobody can understand the whole mess anymore. "Vaccination centers open, vaccination centers closed - continued payment of wages in quarantine yes, then no again - free test, subject to a fee. Yes, did anyone seriously believe that someone else would be tested for their own account if they did not receive any wages afterwards in quarantine? ”In the fight against the fourth wave, Seehofer warned that the outgoing federal government and a possible traffic light coalition should make a joint effort.
Despite the high number of infections, the potential government partners SPD, Greens and FDP want to let the epidemic situation of national scope expire on November 25th.
The previous legal basis for corona restrictions is to be replaced by a new infection protection law, which is intended to legally secure a smaller catalog of possible corona measures.
This law is discussed in the Bundestag.
Lindner: "Need new measures"
"The corona situation is dramatic," said FDP chairman Christian Lindner to the editorial network in Germany.
“We need new and effective measures.” The debate about the end of the epidemic situation is therefore “misleading”.
“This word refers to special legal powers of the government, which the parliament can exercise.
And it's about measures like curfews, which have since been rejected by the courts. "
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Mobile vaccination teams in action in large parts of the country
Mobile vaccination teams are in action in large parts of Lower Saxony after the vaccination centers have been closed.
This is the case in 39 of 45 health department districts, said Heiger Scholz, head of the state government's corona crisis team, on Tuesday in Hanover.
At first, he could not say how many of the teams are administering corona vaccinations.
The around 50 vaccination centers nationwide were closed a few days ago, the 135 mobile teams and resident doctors are now taking over the vaccinations against the coronavirus in the state.
Mobile vaccination teams in action in large parts of the country
Lindner said further, vaccination breakthroughs and infection dynamics established "a new situation that must be responded to".
“That is why we will reintroduce the free tests, among other things.
Their abolition was premature. ”And when“ meaningful additions are proposed during the deliberations on the new Infection Protection Act in the Bundestag, the Free Democrats are always open to them ”.
Union wants to prolong the epidemic situation
According to a media report in the Bundestag, the Union parliamentary group wants to advocate an extension of the epidemic situation.
Three state health ministers of the Greens are also in favor of their continued existence - despite the plans of the possible traffic light government.
Meanwhile, Bundestag President Bärbel Bas advises not to have larger Christmas parties because of the critical Corona situation.
"All citizens should decide for themselves whether they want to take part in Christmas parties or carnival meetings this winter," said the SPD politician in the newspapers of the Funke media group (Saturday).
“If such events take place at all, the 2G rule should go without saying.
I appeal to everyone to refrain from major celebrations. "
Sanctions for the unvaccinated?
The director of the Institut der Deutschen Wirtschaft Köln (IW), Michael Hüther, brought financial sanctions into play for citizens who refuse to be vaccinated against the corona virus.
"The consequences that result from the decision against a vaccination can very well be assigned to the individual - for example through higher insurance premiums for unvaccinated persons or deductibles," writes the head of the employer-related institute in a guest post for "Welt".
dpa
