# Germany to end free COVID tests from Oct. 11 – sources
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2021-08-10
Category: NEWS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news
Meta Title: German government to end free COVID-19 tests to boost
Meta Description: German government stops free testing, urges vaccinations to combat Delta variant and rise in new cases. Unvaccinated face paying for tests.
URL: https://financedigest.com/germany-to-end-free-covid-tests-from-oct-11-sourceshtml

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BERLIN (Reuters) – The German government will stop offering free coronavirus tests from Oct. 11 in a bid to encourage more people to get vaccinated amid concerns about a rise in new cases, sources close to talks with the federal states said on Tuesday.

Less than seven weeks before a federal election, Chancellor Angela Merkel and leaders of the 16 federal states met on Tuesday to discuss measures to avoid a new wave of infections, driven by the spread of the Delta coronavirus variant, and avert unpopular restrictions.

They agreed to [end free testing](https://www.financedigest.com/testing-waters-hungarys-central-bank-flags-cut-in-top-end-of-rate-corridor.html "Testing waters, Hungary’s central bank flags cut in top end of rate corridor") for all except those for whom vaccination is not recommended, such as children and pregnant women, the sources said.

They hope that will encourage more [people to get COVID-19 shots as unvaccinated people will then have to pay for the tests they need](https://www.financedigest.com/banks-need-to-digitise-financial-wellbeing-support-to-help-young-people-manage-through-this-recession.html "Banks need to digitise financial wellbeing support to help young people manage through this recession") to be able to enter indoor restaurants, take part in religious ceremonies and do indoor sport.

Germany had made the [tests free for all in March to help make a gradual return to normal life possible after months of lockdown](https://www.financedigest.com/in-shanghai-lockdown-blues-make-way-for-covid-testing-gripes.html "In Shanghai, lockdown blues make way for COVID testing gripes"). Although [around 55% of Germans](https://www.financedigest.com/around-40-of-german-companies-expect-output-decline-in-2023-iw-institute.html "Around 40% of German companies expect output decline in 2023 – IW institute") are fully vaccinated, the pace of inoculations has slowed.

In neighbouring France, vaccinations jumped after President Emmanuel Macron unveiled a [plan for citizens to have to show a health pass for many daily](https://www.financedigest.com/climate-activists-plan-daily-protests-after-blocking-10-uk-oil-terminals.html "Climate activists plan daily protests after blocking 10 UK oil terminals") activities, although the plan has also triggered mass demonstrations.

Armin Laschet, the conservative candidate to succeed Merkel, said [Germany needed to increase testing and boost vaccinations](https://www.financedigest.com/first-foreign-covid-vaccines-head-to-china-from-germany.html "First foreign COVID vaccines head to China from Germany").

“We want to and will test more to avoid a new lockdown,” Armin Laschet told the North Rhine-Westphalia assembly.

Hoping to become chancellor after the Sept. 26 election, Laschet is desperate to avoid new restrictions and said Germany should introduce incentives to encourage more people to get vaccinated and also ramp up [compulsory testing](https://www.financedigest.com/china-arrivals-in-uk-next-week-will-not-face-compulsory-covid-tests-independent.html "China arrivals in UK next week will not face compulsory COVID tests -Independent").

Germany has recorded more than 3,000 [cases a day](https://www.financedigest.com/shanghai-finds-cases-after-five-days-of-zero-covid-but-end-of-lockdown-on-track.html "Shanghai finds cases after five days of ‘zero COVID’ but end of lockdown on track") in the last week, bringing the total to 3.79 million. Germany’s death toll is 91,803. The nationwide seven-day incidence rose on Tuesday to 23.5 per 100,000 people, up from 23.1 on Monday.

(Reporting by Matthias Inverardi, Andreas Rinke and Holger Hansen; Writing by Joseph Nasr, Madeline Chambers and Emma Thomasson; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky and Mark Potter)


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