Anger at the abolition of free tests

Created: 07/01/2022, 12:55 p.m

By: Laura Forster

Free rapid tests for everyone are history.

A new regulation has been in effect since yesterday.

Test center operators in the district therefore expect less crowds - but remain open.

© sina owes/dpa

Since yesterday, the rapid corona tests are no longer free for all citizens - despite the increasing number of infections.

What are the consequences of the new regulation and who has to pay what amount for a test?

County - Dr.

Stefan Hartmann, pharmacist and operator of a corona test center in Gilching, has only one word for the new test regulation of the Federal Ministry of Health: "Irre." According to Hartmann, the test strategy, which has been in force in Germany since yesterday, is completely unthought-out and completely impractical.

Since Thursday, only a small part of the population is entitled to free rapid tests.

These include: People who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons, for example women in the first trimester of pregnancy, caring relatives and people with disabilities and their carers, members of the household of infected people, children up to five years of age and residents and visitors of nursing homes and facilities for people with disabilities and clinics, citizens who want to test themselves after a corona infection, the chronically ill and participants in corona vaccine studies.

0, 3 or 20 euros for a test in Gilching with Dr.

Stefan Hartman

Others now have to pay three euros for a test: visitors to family celebrations, concerts or other indoor events, citizens whose corona warning app indicates an increased risk, or people who plan to do so, other people over the age of 60 or with previous illnesses hold true.

The rest of the testers have to bear the costs themselves.

This costs 20 euros in Hartmann's test center.

"Unnecessarily, a really well-functioning system was jeopardized and a bureaucratic monster was created," says Hartmann, who is also chairman of the Federal Association of German Pharmacy Cooperations.

He only got the information about the new test regulations on Wednesday afternoon.

“We worked through the night so that we could implement the new regulation on Thursday.” He listed the new test regulation for his around 45 employees on an A4 sheet of paper.

"They now have to check who belongs in which category."

Test centers in the district should remain open, although operators expect fewer crowds

According to Hartmann, it was already evident yesterday that the new rules will still lead to discussions and a lack of understanding (see Bayern section).

So far, 100 to 120 people have come to the test every day.

Some needed negative proof for the holiday, others had contact with an infected person or wanted to visit someone in the hospital or nursing home.

“Many will now think twice about getting tested.

This is counterproductive due to the increasing number of infections," says Hartmann.

He wants to keep his test center open so that it can be restarted quickly should a wave roll in in the fall.

Felix Lechner, who runs test stations in Gauting and Gilching, takes a similar view.

However, he has adjusted his opening hours because he also expects fewer customers.

Manfred Zobel also wants to maintain his test center in Seefeld.

“I have a social responsibility,” he says.

Yesterday he even offered free tests for everyone because the official information from the government took so long.

"I don't ask for anything, even if I have to pay extra." The new rules have also been in force at the district's test center in Gilching since yesterday.