As of: 08/16/2021 8:08 am
At the hairdresser’s, in the bar or pharmacy – there were stations for corona rapid tests everywhere. But then rewards and incidences fell. What are the consequences of the 3G rule and the imminent end of free trials?
Stick a stick in the nose and wait a few minutes: The procedure for the rapid test has now become routine, also for student Katharina Bauer from Tübingen. She is double vaccinated, but can still be tested regularly with her roommates at the test station of the German Red Cross (DRK). To be on the safe side, she explains, especially when she wants to visit her parents.
Criticism of the abolition of free tests
Lisa Federle campaigned early on to ensure that a lot of testing was carried out, and above all free of charge. The emergency physician and pandemic officer in Tübingen is critical of the fact that the rapid tests will no longer be free of charge nationwide from October according to the latest federal-state decision. “Testing is still of significant importance as vaccination rates grow,” she says. “Quite a few people get corona even after a double vaccination, which is why it is important to keep checking the success of the vaccination.”
This is especially true with a view to autumn, when coughs and runny nose increase again. “That’s why everyone should have the opportunity to get a quick test in an uncomplicated way.” This contributes to the general security of the population and reduces the fear of being infected or of infecting others, according to Federle. The tests are also a way to identify sources of infection more quickly.
Fear of sharply decreasing willingness to test
She fears that people will be less tested if they have to pay for the rapid tests. Not everyone can afford the rapid tests. The plan is therefore in Tübingen to continue testing for free. How do you finance that? The DRK Kreisverband Tübingen received earmarked donations for the rapid testing. In addition, they would use the surpluses from the citizen tests for this.
Remuneration for tests lower since July
Since March 2021, the citizen tests have been paid for by the federal government through the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians. For each test carried out, the smear performance was remunerated with twelve euros and there was a maximum of six euros per test kit, a total of 18 euros – and thus more than the test centers had to spend per test. Since July it has been eight euros per smear and a flat rate of 3.50 euros for the test kit, so a total of 11.50 euros. In addition, fewer people are now being tested. The income of the test center has therefore decreased significantly.
Currently, 8,537 companies, institutions and operators of test centers are registered with the Baden-Württemberg Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians for billing. The statutory medical practices are not included. This ranges from pharmacies and emergency services to pubs, hairdressers and supermarkets.
Profitable test centers
The Yogurtcu family operated a rapid test station in their restaurant in the west of Stuttgart. Together with a doctor, she opened a rapid test center right in her restaurant. “For us it was the chance to receive guests again. People could have themselves tested and then take a seat,” explains Yilmaz Yogurtcu. At peak times, they had about 350 tests a day.
Corona hit the catering industry hard. “Financially it was a compensation. That was good for all the failures,” said Yilmaz Yogurtcu. But he thinks the stations should have been better controlled. At some test stations it was only about making money. They have now closed their rapid test center again. The demand was too low. It was no longer profitable.
Demand at the test center at Marienplatz in Stuttgart has also fallen, according to director Shirin Ramsaier. “We were the very first at Marienplatz. When the discussion arose that you could earn money with it, one after the other came along.” In the meantime it has become less again.
3G rule indoors – vaccinated, recovered, tested
That could change now – at least temporarily. The new Corona regulation comes into force in Baden-Württemberg today. A message from the Ministry of Social Affairs said on Friday: “Only those who have been vaccinated, recovered or tested can fully participate in social life. Those who cannot prove a vaccination must show a negative corona test.”
The state government has agreed that a PCR test should only be mandatory for clubs and discos. In all other areas (culture, gastronomy, hairdressing, etc.), a rapid antigen test should be sufficient.
3G rule
As part of protection against infection in the corona pandemic, the 3G rule serves to define groups of people who are assumed to have a low epidemiological risk. The three “G” stand for:
– Gvaccinated persons
– Genesene people
– Gtested people (i.e. people with a current, negative SARS-CoV-2 test)
Proof of belonging to one of these three groups of people may include access authorizations to facilities or entry permits to certain countries. The competent authorities in each case define whether and in which cases the 3G rule is applied and how long the evidence of membership of the respective group of people is valid – for example, how old a negative test result may be or how long ago the infection was survived allowed to benefit from the 3G rule after recovery.
PCR test and rapid antigen test
If you need a corona rapid test, you can go to the rapid test stations and only have to wait a few minutes for the result. The citizen test is free until October 11th. After that, the market will regulate the price.
The PCR test is considered to be safer, but the costs are also significantly higher. According to the Ministry of Social Affairs, smears for the PCR test may be taken by trained, non-medical staff. However, it is important for the PCR tests that the evaluation must be carried out in the laboratory. Providers of PCR test offers must therefore be in contact with an accredited laboratory.
Shirin Ramsaier expects that the demand at the Schnell-Testzentrum at Marienplatz could increase again, but she does not expect the big rush. Yilmaz Yogurtcu could theoretically start up the rapid test center again in a few days. But he wants to wait and see how everything develops.