Germany to end free COVID-19 tests in a bid to encourage more people to get vaccinated
Germany has decided to discontinue free coronavirus testing in October in an effort to encourage more people to get vaccinated. Those who refuse to get vaccinated will have to pay for a COVID-19 test from October to prove they are infection-free.
In areas where infection rates reach 35 per 100,000 people over seven days, COVID-19 tests or proof of vaccination or recovery will be needed to enter facilities such as restaurants, bars, theatres, and gyms.
However, regional authorities and the federal government who agreed on the new step, said that children and people who cannot be vaccinated due to health concerns will still be able to get tested for free.
The national incidence rate was 23.5 on Tuesday, but some areas, including Berlin and Hamburg, have already crossed the 35 threshold.
After administering well over one million doses per day at its peak, Germany’s vaccine uptake rate has dropped considerably. This is what prompted the government to take such a decision.
There have been numerous protests in Germany against coronavirus restrictions as well as vaccinations.
As of August 10, 62.5% of the German population has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. But German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that she hoped another 15% to 20% of the population would get the jab. Merkel also urged people to promote vaccination “in their circles of friends and families and sport clubs”.
Germany’s latest measure is similar to France’s new requirements for a health pass, which includes proof of vaccination, a recent negative test, or recovery from COVID-19, in order to access theatres, cafés, or trains. The introduction of the health pass by French President Emmanuel Macron triggered angry protests across the country.
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