Corona test obligation: When do I still have to test myself?

Declining incidence figures and vaccination progress are promoting discussions about rapid tests and the obligation to wear masks. Rapid corona tests are often a must before going to work, visiting friends in a restaurant or bar or going on holiday. But when are the rapid tests useful and should vaccinated people still be tested?

 Protective measures such as masks or rapid tests continue to make sense until the end of the  pandemic .

Corona quick test: These people should test themselves

“For unvaccinated people, in contrast to vaccinated people, there is still an obligation to test in many areas. In the course of the opening measures, this is already being abolished in some places, the exact rules differ depending on the federal state and the incidences in the individual districts,” says health expert Dr. medical Gunther Burgard, medical director of Pharmact GmbH.

Until a certain vaccination rate or  herd immunity  has been reached, it is recommended that testing be maintained. Especially to protect unprotected parts of the population such as children or pregnant women from infection.

Test despite vaccination: How useful is that?

In principle, fully vaccinated people are equivalent to people who have tested negative. Nevertheless, Gunther Burgard advises vaccinated people to take a test if necessary: ​​”Anyone who has symptoms such as  cough ,  fever  or  a runny nose  should therefore be tested despite vaccination in order to gain certainty and to protect unvaccinated people from infection.”

Although vaccination can protect against a severe course of the disease and reduce the risk of transmission, it does not prevent infection 100 percent. In case of symptoms, the advice of the expert should be taken and a test should be carried out. However, only a PCR test provides complete certainty, which is why this is the best choice when symptoms are present.

So it goes on: Rapid tests still important

With the increasing number of vaccinations, the need for rapid tests or corona self-tests will decrease in the coming weeks. The situation could be different in autumn and winter: Due to the numerous protective measures, there were no waves of flu and colds last year and they could be stronger this winter. Complaints such as cough, runny nose and fever then reappear independently of a SARS-CoV-2 infection.

In order to gain certainty about symptoms and to rule out a corona infection, tests could provide certainty. In addition, different virus variants and mutations can further influence the course of the pandemic – testing options should therefore remain.