Erfurt (dpa / th) – The Thuringian Ministry of Education wants to use rapid antigen tests from the beginning of December to test employees at schools and kindergartens for corona infection. A ministry spokesman told the German Press Agency on Monday that an agreement had been reached with the Thuringian Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KVT) to procure 100,000 such tests.
So far, so-called PCR tests have been used when teachers can be tested. The state bears the costs. Rapid antigen tests are considered to be less complicated and significantly less expensive. A result is usually available after a few minutes, but these tests are also considered less accurate.
So far, teachers have only used the PCR tests cautiously. The state of Thuringia had signed a contract with KVT for 44,000 such tests. In the current year alone, three million euros were made available for this; a PCR test costs the country 69 euros.
Until further notice, employees at schools and daycare centers should be able to be tested weekly at the state’s expense. Initially, it was planned that this rule would only apply until November 22nd. In the meantime, however, the ministry has canceled this deadline. Around 44,000 people work in kindergartens or schools in Thuringia.
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