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Free PoC Testing for SARS-CoV-2 in Germany: Factors Expanding Access to Various Communities in a Medium-Sized City

Author

Listed:
  • Anna Kristina Witte

    (HTK Hygiene Technologie Kompetenzzentrum GmbH, Heinrichstr. 6, 96047 Bamberg, Germany)

  • Janina Grosch

    (HTK Hygiene Technologie Kompetenzzentrum GmbH, Heinrichstr. 6, 96047 Bamberg, Germany)

  • Beate Conrady

    (Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark
    Complexity Science Hub Vienna, 1080 Vienna, Austria)

  • Lena Schomakers

    (HTK Hygiene Technologie Kompetenzzentrum GmbH, Heinrichstr. 6, 96047 Bamberg, Germany)

  • Marcus Grohmann

    (HTK Hygiene Technologie Kompetenzzentrum GmbH, Heinrichstr. 6, 96047 Bamberg, Germany)

Abstract

During the third wave of the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic in Germany, free SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) point-of-care (PoC) antigen tests were offered to citizens at least once a week to prevent spreading by asymptomatic infected individuals. This study investigated user groups, timing, frequency, and test center locations in a typical medium-sized European city. We analyzed 27,369 pseudonymized datasets from eight centers over 12 weeks. Those were evaluated according to age, residence, appointment, and potential repeated test occurrence. The centers were visited by different groups; some centers were preferred by a predominantly younger demographic, whereas a mobile option attracted an older age group by reaching districts with few other testing possibilities. Elderly individuals were tested more spontaneously than younger individuals, and a test center at a ‘park and ride’ had more spontaneous visitors from outside of the city compared to other test locations. Only a small proportion of less than 4% came for testing more than five times. To preferably address many people for voluntary antigen testing, it is crucial to offer different test opportunities accounting for individual behavioral patterns, despite this requiring more complex and costly design than conventional forms.

Suggested Citation

  • Anna Kristina Witte & Janina Grosch & Beate Conrady & Lena Schomakers & Marcus Grohmann, 2022. "Free PoC Testing for SARS-CoV-2 in Germany: Factors Expanding Access to Various Communities in a Medium-Sized City," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-16, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:8:p:4721-:d:793351
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mrinank Sharma & Sören Mindermann & Charlie Rogers-Smith & Gavin Leech & Benedict Snodin & Janvi Ahuja & Jonas B. Sandbrink & Joshua Teperowski Monrad & George Altman & Gurpreet Dhaliwal & Lukas Finnv, 2021. "Understanding the effectiveness of government interventions against the resurgence of COVID-19 in Europe," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Matthew Cleevely & Daniel Susskind & David Vines & Louis Vines & Samuel Wills, 2020. "A workable strategy for COVID-19 testing: stratified periodic testing rather than universal random testing," Oxford Review of Economic Policy, Oxford University Press and Oxford Review of Economic Policy Limited, vol. 36(Supplemen), pages 14-37.
    3. Thomas Gries & Paul J. J. Welfens, 2021. "Testing as an approach to control the Corona epidemic dynamics and avoid lockdowns," International Economics and Economic Policy, Springer, vol. 18(1), pages 1-24, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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