County informs about free citizen tests

From now on, everyone can be tested for the coronavirus once a week free of charge. The federal government issued a corresponding ordinance in the middle of the week. How and where testing is possible in Waldeck-Frankenberg is currently listed by the district on its website, which is constantly updated. Some contact points are already listed, others will follow in the coming days.

The citizen tests in Waldeck-Frankenberg will be offered immediately by doctors, medical laboratories, pharmacies and rescue and aid organisations - but not basically by everyone, but by those who can and want to offer this service. The district is currently making the necessary arrangements together with all partners who have declared their willingness to do so within a very short time.

"After the decision for the free citizens' tests was made by the federal government at rather short notice, it needs a few days' lead time to actually be able to implement the offer in the area," says First District Commissioner and Head of the Health Department Karl-Friedrich Frese. "However, as soon as it became known, we contacted all the facilities in question in order to make the weekly free citizen tests available to the broad masses as quickly as possible. This organisation is still ongoing and the offer is constantly being expanded." Some facilities have already signed up, others are still being prepared and will follow.

The district lists which institutions currently offer the free citizens' tests in Waldeck-Frankenberg online and sorted by municipality on its website. The list is updated continuously and does not claim to be complete. It is based on the information that the facilities have reported to the district. The district is happy to include other facilities here, which are welcome to send information about their offer by e-mail to presse@lkwafkb.de.

The list is intended as a guide for citizens on where they can go to be tested quickly once a week by trained personnel. After the test, they will receive a certificate confirming the result. Positive test results must be reported immediately by the testing facilities to the district's health service, which will then initiate all further measures.

Anyone whose rapid test has detected an infection with the coronavirus is legally obliged to adhere to the following rules: Even without a separate order from the Health Department, you must go home immediately and without detours and contact the Health Department at 05631 - 954 555. At home, you must isolate yourself for 14 days in any case. Contact with other people in the household should be avoided, and visitors must not be received. Contact persons and the employer should also be informed about the positive test result.

However, even with a negative test result, one is obliged to continue to adhere to the applicable hygiene and distance rules. "A negative test result may seem relieving at first, but it is only a snapshot that shows that you are unlikely to infect other people with the coronavirus at the moment," explains Thomas Hetche, head of the health department at the district. "A negative rapid test is no guarantee that you are not infected with the virus." Therefore, one must continue to be careful and cautious.

It should be noted that most facilities that offer the rapid tests initially set fixed times when testing is possible - and then only after prior telephone registration. This is important in order to be able to coordinate the demand accordingly. We ask you to observe these guidelines in order to ensure that everything runs as smoothly as possible.