Since Saturday there have been free corona rapid tests for all citizens again.
This creates a rush at the test stations.
District
- This sight has not existed for a long time at the central test station of the Free State of Bavaria on the Weilheimer Volksfestplatz: car lines up after car.
The need for PCR and rapid tests is immense.
This is due to the fourth corona wave, which is currently raging worse in the district than ever before, but also because at least the quick tests are free again for citizens.
"We passed 188 people through today," says the doctor in charge at the test station, Dr.
Wilhelm Fischer, at the request of the local newspaper.
Among them were 57 free rapid tests.
Organizationally, these are comparatively easy to handle.
It is complicated, however, with the 131 PCR tests that were taken yesterday.
It is unclear when a person is entitled to a free PCR test - checking takes time
“PCR tests are only taken here from people who do not show any symptoms. And only if they were free of charge for the patients, ”says Fischer. So if you need a PCR test for your disco visit, the staff at the test center will send you away. Otherwise there would now be an unmanageable number of rules and regulations as to when someone is entitled to be free of charge PCR tested. "We have to check every single one of them to see whether they are authorized," the doctor continued. That takes significantly longer than before.
The laboratories are also working at their capacity limit.
This is also due to the fact that the rate of positive PCR test results is significantly higher than in the summer.
“At that time, when all those returning to travel were able to get free PCR tests, around two percent of the results were positive.
Today it is around 30 percent, ”continued Fischer.
The demand for tests in pharmacies has risen sharply - also from those who have been vaccinated
Since the new edition of the free Corona citizen tests, the rush to test offers in pharmacies has increased. Dr. Philipp Kircher, pharmacy spokesman for the district, compared to the previous weeks. When the rapid antigen tests became chargeable on October 11th, suddenly significantly fewer test subjects had themselves tested for the virus. "Now things are going up again in quick succession," says Kircher, describing the demand since the weekend. In the test station he operates in Peißenberg alone, 100 to 200 rapid tests were carried out on Saturday. “So the price is definitely a decisive argument.” Above all, those who want to be certain that the virus will not be passed on would come to the test again - although the vaccination status does not play an important role.
According to Kircher, there were a large number of those who were immunized, “especially those of an older age”, who simply fear a vaccination breakthrough.
In addition, of course, there are people without a vaccination who have to present an official rapid antigen test with negative results for work or leisure activities.
How often someone can be tested for free can hardly be controlled
Whether vaccinated or not: every citizen has at least one free rapid antigen test available per week.
In practice, however, it is hardly possible to control how often a person actually gets tested, says Kircher.
“There is no technical possibility to do this.” One must therefore trust the common sense and solidarity of the people in order not to exhaust the free offer.
In October, many pharmacies wanted to significantly reduce their test offer after the demand had fallen so drastically.
Now the capacities have to be increased again.
"This is more difficult for pharmacies than for test centers," says Kircher.
Especially with regard to a possible 2Gplus rule, in which vaccinated and convalescent people also have to present a negative rapid test result, this would mean a high level of stress.
"If everyone needs a test, the infrastructure will reach its limits," fears the pharmacy spokesman.
No decisions yet to expand the test options in the district
According to the press office, the district office still sees the situation as relaxed: “At the moment we are building on the test offers that are immediately available from the Bavarian test center, in the existing test centers and in the pharmacies. We are currently coordinating further measures in the disaster control management group. This can also include an expansion of the test options in the district. Concrete resolutions on this have not yet been taken ”, it was said yesterday on request. Currently there is "already a nationwide offer of free citizen tests". Anyone whose rapid or self-test is positive is entitled to a PCR test. This can be done either at the Volksfestplatz or at the family doctor's - free of charge. This test option can currently still be offered at short notice.The district office pointed out that you have to go into quarantine even with a positive rapid test.
By the way: Everything from the region is now also available in our regular Weilheim-Penzberg newsletter.
