In Germany, the share of the British variant of the Chinese Communist virus is doubling every week, raising high concerns. In response to the outbreak, the German government will introduce a free rapid antigen test.
The new British crown variant of virus B117 is spreading at a worrying rate in Germany, with German Federal health Minister Jens Spahn telling the media on Wednesday that the British variant accounted for 22 percent of the newly infected group, compared with a similar figure of 6 percent two weeks ago. German epidemiologists are concerned that while the total number of new infections is now decreasing, the British variant of the virus could change that trend, so it is not a matter of caution and it is too early to unblock it.
At a press conference on Wednesday, the health minister said the British variant is likely to become the main virus spreading in Germany soon, based on data from the Robert Koch Institute, which shows that the variant doubles its share of new cases every week. In addition, the South African variant accounts for 1.5% of new infections in Germany.
In order to further explore the transmission pathway and the strength of the variant, the German federal government has decided to invest additional funds in laboratories to strengthen and accelerate sequencing of the virus. According to general estimates, the infectivity of the UK variant of the new coronavirus is 35% higher than the previous one.
At present, Germany is still implementing the “no-footing order” to reduce commercial activities to a minimum, allowing only supermarkets and other stores that guarantee basic necessities to open, and no more than two families to gather. Since Sunday, the German-German and Austrian borders have been largely closed, and all but Germans or foreigners with permanent residence have to pass a test to enter Germany. The measure has caused major problems for incoming and outgoing transport vehicles as well as services for people crossing the border.
Soon, rapid antigen tests will be available free of charge at Home
After a year of criticism that Germany has few new crown tests and slow results, Minister Spann said Tuesday that he is pushing for national approval of a new rapid antigen testing procedure, which, once approved, will allow free rapid tests for everyone.
Compared with nucleic acid testing, antigen testing does not have to be performed in a laboratory and the results are not precise enough. But in the current situation, the administration of vaccines and rapid tests is an important criterion for the gradual return to normalcy in German society and the opening of schools and cultural and sports facilities.
Spann announced that from March 1, testing centers and pharmacies will offer free rapid test reagents, which will be administered by trained professionals. He said that there are already enough reagents on the market. Cities and counties can entrust testing centers and pharmacies with specific implementation.
In an interview with the media, Spann said that rapid antigen testing at home is still in the process of applying for state approval, and that once the green light is given, everyone can test on their own. In a Twitter post, he wrote, “This will help return to a safe Life, especially for schools and kindergartens.”
It would also mean an important change. So far, rapid antigen testing has only been approved for use in places like homes and hospitals, and in isolated cases in schools. However, private individuals can only go to a testing center and pay for a rapid antigen test agent, which usually costs between 30 and 60 euros.
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