Rapid tests disappear
Sweden wants to drastically reduce corona tests: “Financially not justifiable”
A corona test site at Arlanda Airport near Stockholm. Such test sites will soon be a thing of the past in Sweden.
© Claudio BRESCIANI / TT News Agency / AFP
From February 9th almost all corona restrictions will be lifted in Sweden. This should also significantly reduce the number of corona tests in the country. The reason: it is not economically justifiable.
On Wednesday, Sweden joins the countries in which there are (almost) no more corona rules. Recommendations for wearing a mouth and nose protector, restrictions in the catering trade or distance rules are no longer applicable. And with the end of the corona rules, the corona tests should also disappear – or at least be significantly reduced.
The Scandinavian country no longer wants to continue testing people with corona symptoms to the same extent as was previously the case. “We have reached a point where the cost and relevance of the tests are no longer justifiable,” says Karin Tegmark Wisell, director general of the Swedish health authority Folkhälsomyndigheten, on Sunday in the program “Agenda” by the Swedish television station SVT.
Sweden wants rapid tests in the health sector
PCR tests have so far cost the state more than 21.5 billion Swedish kronor. That’s the equivalent of more than two billion euros. At the moment the spread of the corona virus in Sweden is so great that half of those who test themselves have Covid-19.
“If we have extensive testing adapted to all Covid-19 patients, it would mean half a billion kronor a week and two billion a month,” says Karin Tegmark Wisell. Instead, future testing and infection tracing should focus on healthcare and elder care, rather than the general population. Society’s resources should be used where they make the most difference.
“We now have extensive testing in health care, in elderly care and we also have different types of monitoring where we capture what variants are circulating in society. We also need to adapt it now so that it is as appropriate as possible.”
Denmark relies on self-test
In neighboring Denmark, where no corona rules have applied since last week, there are also plans to reduce test capacity. Since Monday, the capacity for the quick tests has been reduced from 500,000 to 200,000. In addition, the government wants to adjust the testing strategy to ensure that the testing strategy corresponds to the current stage of the epidemic development, the said Ministry of Health in January with.
Instead, they want to rely more on self-tests. These are a “good alternative,” said Health Minister Magnus Heunicke. All rapid test centers in Denmark should close by March 6 at the latest.
“Anyone who gets symptoms should be tested and we still recommend isolation if you have symptoms and have tested positive, but these are recommendations and not restrictions,” said Søren Brostrøm, director of the Danish Health Authority, on Agenda.
Other sources: “Aftonbladet”, Denmark Radio