Status: March 8th, 2021 6:00 a.m.
With immediate effect, the first free corona tests are to be offered to citizens in test centers, pharmacies and general practitioners’ practices. The Hamburg Senate announced this last week.
The demand is great, but only 25,000 rapid antigen tests per day are currently in stock in Hamburg. And even with the number of places where you can get such a test, the social authority is still at the beginning. According to the authority, 18 pharmacies, 27 test centers and 67 general practitioners are currently participating.
According to the authority, the offer will be gradually expanded. So it was on Saturday in a first The list published by the social authority for the Harburg district has not yet included a single test offer. So patience may be required, also when registering. Appointments for a rapid test with their family doctor can be made by calling 116 117. At the test centers it is necessary to register online via the to register for the respective websites in order to be able to do a free one there.
AUDIO: Free corona rapid tests in Hamburg (1 min)
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Tests sold out quickly at discounters
On Saturday, the two discounters Aldi and Lidl also offered quick tests for the first time at home. At Aldi in Hamburg they were quickly sold out because the supply was much smaller than the demand. At Lidl, the website temporarily collapsed due to the large number of orders.
Whether a self-test from the discounter or a free quick test – applies to both: They only show a snapshot. If the result is positive, a PCR test must be performed. The Hamburg social welfare authority pointed this out over the weekend. Until the result is available, those affected have to go into quarantine.
Dissatisfaction at Tschentscher
According to a decision by the heads of government of the federal and state governments last Wednesday, all citizens should be given a free quick test once a week until April. In connection with the rapid tests, Hamburg’s Mayor Peter Tschentscher joined the criticism of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania’s Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig (both SPD) at the federal government. “Yes, I also criticize the fact that first announcements are made and then the plans are made to implement these announcements. That often arouses expectations that are then disappointed,” said Tschentscher on Sunday evening in the ARD program “Report from Berlin”.
Further information
