Since they became chargeable, antigenic tests or PCR attracted fewer people and this decline is particularly marked in young adults.
Since October 15, Covid screening tests have become chargeable for unvaccinated people who do not have a medical prescription. For those concerned, it is now necessary to pay 44 euros for a PCR test and 22 euros for an antigen. In pharmacies, you will have to pay 25 euros or even 30 euros on weekends. Very quickly, the end of free everything produced its effects with a clear drop in the number of tests carried out.
45% fewer tests
In total, since the end of free access, there has been a 45% drop in the number of tests performed. On October 15, 371,174 tests that were carried out against 675,075 the previous Friday. Data from Public Health France also revealed a spike in the number of tests on Thursday, October 14, the day before the non-reimbursement of tests took effect.
The statistical service of the Ministry of Health (Drees) notes that the decline appears “more marked for antigenic tests than for RT-PCR”, But especially that that concerns“especially young adults”.
The “concerned” Defender of Rights
This decrease worries specialists for the monitoring of epidemiology, especially since the data also show this last week a slight rebound in the epidemic. The Defender of Rights, Claire Hédon, said “preoccupied” in a press release this wednesday by this measure which, according to her, is akin to a “disguised vaccination obligation”. The latter judges that “this provision, which will affect in particular the most vulnerable people, presents a risk of discrimination“, Making it more difficult”screening people far from the health system” as well as “populations precarious and / or isolated”.
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