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In a period of epidemic recovery, several personalities in the medical world believe that it is necessary to restore free health care tests Covid for all. Some unvaccinated people hesitate or delay getting tested, which would increase the risk of the virus circulating.
Since October 15, adults not vaccinated against Covid-19 and without a prescription must pay to be tested. A PCR test costs 43.89 euros, while the price of an antigen test varies from 22 to 25 euros. So even if the number of tests dailies has been declining steadily since mid-August, the fall has been more marked since the end of free access. October 15, 450 432 tests dailies were made, compared to 283,790 on 12 November.
As the fifth wave arises, this reluctance worries doctors, especially when it comes to unvaccinated people who have symptoms or are in contact with sick people. “On the one hand, there is a risk that they will not be screened, which means that the epidemic will continue to spread, and especially since these are people who are more exposed than ‘others, explains the journalist France Télévisions and doctor Damien Mascret. Then, we also risk having more people hospitalized. They are also the people who are most at risk of aggravation.“
By making the tests paid, the government hoped to relaunch vaccination, but the rebound did not take place. For the moment, the executive does not plan to restore free access to tests.