Free tests for all: Federal Council wants to accompany openings with test offensive

The Federal Council wants to accompany gradual openings with a massive expansion of testing while too few vaccines are still available. To improve prevention and early detection of Corona outbreaks, businesses and schools will be allowed to test repeatedly. Companies that test frequently can thus be exempted from the quarantine requirement for contact persons. In addition, the Federal Council wants to give each person five self-tests per month free of charge. To ensure that everyone can be tested immediately, tests at pharmacies or test centers will also be free of charge for people without symptoms. The cost of the massive expansion of testing scenarios is estimated by the federal government at over one billion francs. The Federal Council argues: Because the more contagious virus variants are spreading more and more, prevention and early detection of local outbreaks must be stepped up, it says.

No substitute for PCR tests

Free testing is scheduled to begin March 15. The population will be tested repeatedly using saliva samples. In the testing form in schools and companies, however, the tests are not carried out individually, but in a single collective sample, in order to reduce material and time expenditure. However, the repeated testing is not intended as a substitute for protection concepts, but as additional protection, as the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) further writes.

However, saliva tests are significantly less reliable than PCR tests, the FOPH notes. Negative tests should not lead to false security or unreasonable behavior. It is still important to wear a mask and to take care to maintain distances, it said. It is still open, however, whether a negative test result may also be considered a prerequisite for participation in certain events.

Source: BAG