With the new test regulation, citizens in Germany are again entitled to at least one free antigen rapid test per week.
The goal: to interrupt chains of infection at an early stage.
The first test stations in the district are expanding their capacities again.
Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen
- In the fight against the corona pandemic, the free citizen tests are back.
The ordinance of the Federal Ministry of Health announced on Friday came into force on Saturday.
Thanks to them, everyone is entitled to at least one free rapid antigen test per week - regardless of their vaccination or convalescence status.
If the federal government has its way, the test offer on site should be expanded again.
More employees before "Gustavo Gusto"
Some existing test stations are already implementing this. The Excura company operates a test station at the “Gustavo Gusto” sales house in Geretsried. Since Saturday, the station has "definitely been more popular," explains Excura managing director Alexandra Dieterich. On Sunday, for example, "we had about half more than on the previous Sundays," she says. The test station has always been well attended on Sundays. In order to cope with the current demand, Dieterich is now using more employees during the regular opening hours. She hopes that the free tests will "have an impact on fighting the pandemic". Eventually, the demand dropped to about half when the offer became chargeable. Vaccinated people would also take advantage of the test offer again.According to managing director Dieterich, many want to "play it safe".
Situation in Bichl and Benediktbeuern
Christoph Peters, who tests in his naturopathic practice on Nockhergasse in Bad Tölz, has not yet seen a greater number of visitors than the fee-based test phase.
This can also be heard from the rapid test station at Bahnhofplatz in Benediktbeuern.
Operator Petra Edenhofer only tests on Saturdays, according to her own statements, her test dates were always fully booked in the previous weeks.
At Manuela Schalch's test center in Bichl, too, the demand remained about the same because unvaccinated people “cannot use the test for much”.
Spa pharmacy in Tölz: "It attracts"
However, that is not the decisive point, says pharmacist Andreas Heinrich from the Tölzer Kur-Apotheke. The fact that the rush is currently still "cautious" does not make him unhappy, because the decision of the politicians came at very short notice. But: “It attracts.” Heinrich: “If you have the opportunity, you should have yourself tested once a week.” This is the only way to remove symptom-free vaccinated infected people, because their “virus load is sufficient to be contagious to be". In view of the current pandemic situation in the district, his appeal to those who have been vaccinated is: "Get tested once a week."
The test offer of the cure pharmacy has completely shifted to the vitality center, says Heinrich. The second test site at Isarkai, which has been closed since the beginning of October, should not be reactivated as things stand. Because of the weather, Heinrich and his team would have to take everything with them every day and bring them back the next day because the tests are temperature-sensitive. Correct storage and reliable results are "only possible at room temperature," explains the pharmacist. The hut remains "as a backup", but there is enough test capacity in the vitality center. If the demand continues to rise, Heinrich would rather increase staff there. There are already more afternoon appointments. “When 2G plus comes”, demand could increase even further. As of today, 2G will apply across the board in Bavaria.
More staff in the Tölzer Hof pharmacies
However, only a 2G-plus rule offers security, says Josef Blickenberger, who runs the two farm pharmacies in Bad Tölz.
Since the reintroduction of the free tests “a lot more is going on”.
Pharmacist Blickenberger is also extending the test times: if he previously had six people who tested for the farm pharmacies, two more people are now joining the team.
BRK no longer there
But what about new test sites? Will closed ones resume operations? Four of the decommissioned test sites were operated by the DLRG, in the Münsingen district of St. Heinrich, in front of the Loisachhalle in Wolfratshausen, at Schwankleck and, as the largest of the DLRG, the one in the Loisachpassage - until testing became chargeable. Since the test sites were “only run by volunteers”, “you have to see how things develop,” says Robert Klingel, chairman of the DLRG local association in Schäftlarn-Wolfratshausen. The thought is there, but there is a lack of planning security. After all, you don't know how quickly the test regulation will change again.
The BRK also had a large test site in Geretsried and others in Sachsenkam, Schlehdorf and Kochel am See, and for a short time also one in Icking.
The last of these was closed on September 30th.
The BRK does not want to put any of them back into operation, "because 2G will apply from Tuesday, then the test will be invalid," says district manager Andreas Schäfer.
"Actually, we're out of there."
Flinthöhe: Still questions unanswered
And the test center of the district on the Flinthöhe in Bad Tölz?
Yesterday was the first day with a new test prescription, the weekend was closed.
In the district office they have "no feedback" as to whether more or fewer people have taken up the offer.
And the extension of the test times?
"Nothing is planned at the moment," says Marlis Peischer, press spokeswoman for the district office.
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