Germany will stop offering free rapid tests to detect the coronavirus to those not vaccinated, although the specific date of entry into force of the measure has not yet been decided, the Ministry of Health assured this Saturday. “Health Minister Jens Spahn said weeks ago that he considered it conceivable that the tests (at some point) would cease to be offered free of charge to the unvaccinated. The exact date has yet to be determined,” the ministry said.
For his part, the Minister of Economy, Olaf Scholz, said in statements to the newspapers of the Funke media group that the tests will not be paid until everyone has had the opportunity to be vaccinated “that is, within a few weeks.” Exceptions should be applied to those who cannot be vaccinated for health reasons, as well as to children and adolescents.
In another vein, Scholz also spoke out in favor of extending economic aid due to the pandemic at least until the end of the year. “No one should stumble shortly before being rescued,” explained the current candidate of the Social Democrats for the Chancellery in the elections on September 26.
In favor of mandatory vaccination
As for vaccination, just over half of German small and medium-sized companies are in favor of a mandatory vaccination, if this can prevent another economic shutdown, according to a survey known this Saturday.
The poll by the association of small and medium-sized enterprises BVMW has shown that almost 54 percent of companies would agree to a widespread vaccination if it avoids lockdowns and the closure of schools. 45 percent of the around 2,950 companies surveyed spoke out against it.
The general director of BVMW, Markus Jerger, understands that “the result reflects the impotence and the lack of planning of the federal government’s policy regarding the coronavirus.” There is great concern among companies about the threat of a new closure, he added, “which would have dramatic consequences for our economy and would mean the definitive economic end for many small and medium-sized companies.”
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