Status: 01/13/2023 10:42 a.m
The Ministry of Health has announced a change to the Corona Test Ordinance. Anyone who wants to “test themselves” after an infection will have to pay for the quick test themselves from January 16th.
The federal government is further restricting the range of free corona citizen tests. For so-called free testing after an infection with a certificate, rapid tests should no longer be free from January 16th. This was announced by the Federal Ministry of Health at the request of the dpa news agency. The test regulation should be changed accordingly.
The background to this is the relaxation of the rules for isolation and quarantine in several federal states. There is therefore no longer any need to finance tests to end isolation from federal funds – especially given that the federal states and municipalities have already received significant financial support during the pandemic.
Free citizen tests before visiting clinics
However, medical personnel who have to be tested before resuming work are still entitled to a free quick test, as the ministry explained. Citizen tests from test centers will generally remain free until February 28, including for all visitors to clinics and nursing homes.
Bundestag decides to stop financing
The rules for the citizen tests had already been tightened at the end of November. The once very wide range of state-funded tests, which had already cost the federal government billions, was thus further restricted. Health Minister Karl Lauterbach made it clear at the time: “This winter, too, we have to protect patients and those in need of care from corona infection in particular.”
According to information from the coalition, the budget committee of the Bundestag had also decided to stop the funding of tests for “free tests” on January 15th. The remuneration for the providers was recently reduced from 9.50 euros to 8.00 euros per test.