Free antigen tests will be offered for all in Germany from March

German Health Minister Jens Spahn on Tuesday said the country will offer free COVID-19 antigen tests for all the citizens from March. The tests will be available at all the pharmacies, doctors’ and dentists’ offices as well as COVID-19 testing centres, AFP reported. This announcement comes as Germany eyes reopening schools and some other facilities after over three months of closures.

“From 1 March, all citizens will be able to be tested free of charge by trained personnel” with the tests, Spahn said.

Antigen testing, unlike PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests, need not be analysed in the lab. It can be done from saliva and the result can be given in 30 minutes, making it easier and faster to test large numbers of people. However, the antigen tests are reportedly less reliable in detecting the virus in people who are not showing symptoms.

The country will soon be rolling out self-administered antigen tests. Germans will be asked to pay one euro each for the home tests. 

Restaurants and bars, hotels, cultural venues and leisure centres were closed in November, followed by schools and non-essential shops in December. Since then, new cases have dropped considerably and the seven-day incidence rate had fallen to 58.7 on Tuesday.

The country on Tuesday recorded 3,856 new cases in the previous 24 hours and 528 deaths.