The German federal government must first set up a task force headed by Andreas Scheuer (CSU) and Jens Spahn (CDU) to procure rapid corona tests. Furthermore, it has to be discussed where free quick tests are offered or where test kits are given free of charge. In the meantime, Aldi, Lidl and Co should set the slow pace of the German government.

It would be almost inconceivable that pregnancy tests could be bought at the Aldi checkout. Corona tests for personal use have been sold directly at the cash desk in the discounter's branches since Saturday. The price is low by German standards: a five-pack of the rapid test "AESKU.RAPID SARS CoV-24,99" costs EUR 2. Other discounters and drugstore chains want to follow suit in the next few days.

Thus, Aldi, Lidl and Co. should compensate for the slow pace of the German federal government, because free tests in pharmacies or the distribution of test kits for self-testing will probably not come before April 2021. Health Minister Spahn originally wanted to enable the Residents can have it tested free of charge in pharmacies from March 1, 2021. So far, the promise has turned into nothing more than hot air.

Test kits in Austria free of charge, but artificial shortages

In the neighboring country of Austria the situation is completely different, because in contrast to Germany there is Comprehensive test possibilities of the federal states, municipalities and pharmacies. With a few exceptions, the costs are borne by the state, with the settlement being made by the health insurance companies. Unfortunately, this has the consequence that those insured by the health care institutions and people without health insurance currently have to pay at least in the pharmacies themselves. However, some KFA allow reimbursement of the invoice.

In Austria, anyone who wants to go to the hairdresser needs a test report that must not be older than 48 hours. Self-tests are currently not recognized. In the future, entering the cafés in the catering industry should only be allowed with negative results. This idea by the Austrian government is the subject of controversy.

While the free tests by pharmacies and the stations of the federal states and municipalities work largely without any problems, there are serious bottlenecks in the free home tests. These were already sold out in most pharmacies on Monday. The demand is very high, which means that after a few hours no more could be picked up. In addition, there is the discriminatory fact that people who have deregistered from ELGA, are excluded from the delivery of the free test kits. This is heavily criticized by the opposition and consumer advocates.

A very exciting phenomenon, however, resulted from a public call that Aviation Direct carried out on Friday in randomly selected pharmacies. Not a single one had the government's free kits in stock, and no date could be given for the next delivery. Remarkably, however, such self-tests would have been available for collection against payment. The prices were given between six and 8,10 euros. When asked why these are not given as free tests, the owners of the pharmacies answered more or less uniformly that the kits were self-procured and that the federal government provides them free of charge. One should not mix these with each other due to the requirements of the government. In other words: Austria's government uses bureaucratic measures to artificially create a bottleneck that leads to long queues and disappointed faces.