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I live there and there was a shortage where I was up until recently, and prices for home kits are higher than they used to be. Free tests are free but you must

by ssl232 5y ago

I live there and there was a shortage where I was up until recently, and prices for home kits are higher than they used to be. Free tests are free but you must go to a testing center, potentially having to book beforehand. In the UK you get a set of 7 free tests via mail if you ask, and you can ask once per day, so effectively you can test every two waking hours if you feel inclined. There's definitely a difference in testing going on between the two countries.

nkmnz 5y ago
Where are you? I’ve been to 7 cities in the past month and I could get a professional test every day with 10-30min waiting time, and supermarkets were stocked with hundreds of tests everywhere. If you live in Bavaria, maybe some crony CSU politicians created an artificial shortage of supply in order to extort higher kickbacks? :)
- ssl232 5y ago
  Niedersachsen, but I think you're missing my main point: the mental and physical effort for doing a test is much lower in the UK. As I said, you can order a set of 7 lateral flow tests for next day delivery to your door. The free tests in Germany involve either booking a slot, or at least risking to turn up and wait for a slot, at a test center. The home kits cost money and, as I pointed out, are often out of stock (though apparently this is a highly localised phenomenon). It should also be noted the free test kits in the UK say the user must submit their result whether positive or negative. This surely pushes up the number of positive tests included in UK figures. In fact, I suspect the UK's high case rates since the summer - part of the reason why Germany has had it on its list of high risk areas since July - are simply an artefact of huge rates of testing going on and not because it's "plague island" as some like to brand it.
  - nkmnz 5y ago
    I get your main point, but I do not agree. Pointing out that you are wrong with the spare facts is just easier than arguing about wether professional tests or DIY are better suited to slow down the pandemic. Since there’s no one stopping you from faking the DIY test result, while there’s at least one other person involved in forging an official test, I personally think it’s very reasonable to not include DIY tests into „2G+“.
    - ssl232 5y ago
      I am sorry but from your reply it seems like you've missed my point. Not sure how I can clarify it so I'll just stop replying.

by ssl232 5y ago

nkmnz 5y ago

Where are you? I’ve been to 7 cities in the past month and I could get a professional test every day with 10-30min waiting time, and supermarkets were stocked with hundreds of tests everywhere. If you live in Bavaria, maybe some crony CSU politicians created an artificial shortage of supply in order to extort higher kickbacks? :)

ssl232 5y ago
Niedersachsen, but I think you're missing my main point: the mental and physical effort for doing a test is much lower in the UK. As I said, you can order a set of 7 lateral flow tests for next day delivery to your door. The free tests in Germany involve either booking a slot, or at least risking to turn up and wait for a slot, at a test center. The home kits cost money and, as I pointed out, are often out of stock (though apparently this is a highly localised phenomenon). It should also be noted the free test kits in the UK say the user must submit their result whether positive or negative. This surely pushes up the number of positive tests included in UK figures. In fact, I suspect the UK's high case rates since the summer - part of the reason why Germany has had it on its list of high risk areas since July - are simply an artefact of huge rates of testing going on and not because it's "plague island" as some like to brand it.
- nkmnz 5y ago
  I get your main point, but I do not agree. Pointing out that you are wrong with the spare facts is just easier than arguing about wether professional tests or DIY are better suited to slow down the pandemic. Since there’s no one stopping you from faking the DIY test result, while there’s at least one other person involved in forging an official test, I personally think it’s very reasonable to not include DIY tests into „2G+“.
  - ssl232 5y ago
    I am sorry but from your reply it seems like you've missed my point. Not sure how I can clarify it so I'll just stop replying.