The European country that ended free COVID-19 tests: “It is money that we can put elsewhere”

Sweden stopped testing for coronavirus COVID-19 on a large scale even among people showing symptoms of contagion and closed mobile test tents and drive-through centers, in addition to suspending home-based tests that became ubiquitous during the pandemic and provided essential data to control its spread.

The measure places the Scandinavian nation at the antipodes of the rest of Europe, but some experts argue that this could become the norm since the expensive tests yield fewer benefits with the omicron variantwhich is more easily transmitted and causes milder symptoms, as governments begin to consider treating the COVID-19 like another endemic disease.

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“We have reached a point where the cost and relevance of testing are no longer justifiable”the director of the country’s Public Health Agency, Karin Tegmark Wisell, told state television SVT this week.

“If we were to do extensive testing tailored to everyone who has COVID-19that could be 500 million crowns (about 55 million dollars) per week and 2,000 million per month (220 million)”, added Tegmark Wisell.

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“Today more than 85% of the population is covered by what PCR testing is beginning to be considered irrelevant. “It’s money we can put elsewhere,” declared Tegmark Wisell.

As of Wednesday, only toilets, employees of senior centers and the most vulnerable population will be entitled to a free PCR test if they show symptoms of the disease, while the rest will be asked to stay home if they have symptoms compatible with the virus. COVID-19.

An operator collects the last samples for PCR tests, at a testing center in Svagertorp, Malmo, Sweden, on Feb. 8, 2022. (Johan Nilsson/TT via AP)

Rapid antigen tests can be purchased in supermarkets and pharmacies, but those results are not reported to health authorities. Private centers can test and offer certificates for international travel. but its cost will not be reimbursed by the state or by health insurance.

The high rate of vaccination in the country generates optimism among health authorities, and a study from the end of 2020 presented on Tuesday concluded that about 85% of the samples had antibodies.

At midnight on Wednesday, restrictions on the capacity of events or restaurants were also lifted, the need to present the vaccination certificate was eliminated and bars and restaurants resumed their hours without limitations.

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Source: Elcomercio