Federal and state resolutions: Off for free tests – compulsory testing for unvaccinated people

Non-vaccinated people have to be prepared for more test obligations and usually pay for rapid tests themselves from October 11th – according to the decision of the Bund-Länder-Round. The epidemic emergency is to be prolonged.

From October 11, the federal government will no longer cover the costs of corona rapid tests for all citizens. If you don’t get vaccinated and need a negative test to go to a restaurant, for example, you have to pay for it yourself. Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) and the prime ministers of the federal states agreed on this.

Exceptions apply to people who cannot be vaccinated or for whom there is no general vaccination recommendation. These are especially pregnant women and children and young people under the age of 18.

The decision paper points out that the free citizen tests would have made an important contribution to breaking the third corona wave. Since a vaccination offer can now be made to all citizens, the permanent assumption of the costs for all tests by the federal government and thus the taxpayers is not indicated.

Compulsory testing for non-vaccinated people indoors

At the same time, the federal and state governments agreed that for people who have neither been vaccinated nor recovered, the submission of a negative corona test should become mandatory for many indoor activities from 23 August.

This applies, for example, to eating in restaurants, visiting the hairdresser or exercising in the gym. However, it also applies to visitors to hospitals, old people’s and nursing homes and facilities for the disabled. There are exceptions here too, for example for students who are tested regularly and for regions with low incidences.

The resolution states that the federal states can suspend this rule in whole or in part “as long as the seven-day incidence in a county is stable below 35 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants or the indicator system of a country (which includes other factors, such as Hospitalization) reflects a comparably low incidence of infections and an increase in the number of infections due to the suspension of the regulations is not to be expected “.

Merkel emphasized: “We all want that we can curb the increase in the number of infections with low-threshold measures.” For those who are not vaccinated, tests should therefore be relied on. Even in view of the more contagious Delta variant of the corona virus, the basic protection with a distance and mask requirement for example in retail and public transport remain mandatory for everyone.

Appeal to non-vaccinated people

Berlin’s Governing Mayor Michael Müller (SPD) sees the end of free tests as a correct step. The tests were easily circumvented by vaccination. Those who do not accept the offer cannot expect the solidarity community to bear the costs. Those who choose this path have to accept, then pay for it.

Müller described the vaccination quota in Germany as too low. “The group of the unvaccinated is too big. There is nothing to talk about.” It is bitter that so many people do not take advantage of the vaccination offers. “Vaccination, vaccination, vaccination is the order of the day,” said Müller, who is currently chairman of the conference of prime ministers.

Especially among the younger ones, for whom the vaccination rate is low, the number of infections went up again. In the group of 15 to 25 year olds in Berlin, the seven-day incidence is 100. Müller appealed “urgently” to take advantage of the vaccination offers.

Epidemic situation should be extended

The federal and state governments also called for the epidemic situation of national importance to be extended beyond September 11th. The Bundestag would be responsible for this. Overall, Germany is still in a pandemic situation and the responsible authorities must continue to be able to take the necessary measures.

Sports events in front of a maximum of 25,000 spectators

The group also agreed to limit the number of spectators at major sporting events to 25,000. Müller said that you can see “that we can trust ourselves to do something, but not in every form, because we are not completely over the hill”. The number of 25,000 visitors makes it clear that major events are possible, “but with rules, with intervals that can be taken into account at the event,” emphasized Müller. In addition, it is important to avoid large accumulations before or afterwards, where hazards arise.

The Chancellor said that the so-called 3G rule – i.e. access for vaccinated, convalescent and tested people – would also be enforced at indoor sports events and indoor sports, according to the Chancellor.

Corona economic aid until the end of the year

In addition, the Corona economic aid is to be extended. The bridging allowance III Plus, which has been running until the end of September, and the facilitation of access to short-time working allowance are now to run until the end of the year. Merkel said after the video conference that the federal government had promised that the bridging aid would be extended. According to the decision paper, the federal states are asking the federal government to extend the easier access to short-time work allowance.

Economics Minister Peter Altmaier (CDU) and Finance Minister Olaf Scholz (SPD) had already promised an extension of the bridging aid, while Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) had spoken out in favor of extending the short-time allowance. Both are central government instruments worth billions to cushion the effects of the pandemic on jobs and companies.