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In which pharmacies can I get a rapid test?
The federal government has provided a comprehensive testing strategy for rapid corona tests in pharmacies since March 15. But currently only 276 branches in Switzerland offer Corona quick kits – that’s not even 20 percent of all pharmacies in the country. The few branches that offer rapid tests have clearly limited testing capacity and are therefore often fully booked. Virtually everywhere, you need to register in advance at the pharmacy online or by phone to get a quick test.
In some cities like Aarau or Biel there is not a single pharmacy that offers rapid tests. The reason: for many pharmacies it is almost impossible to take the necessary protective measures that are necessary to perform rapid tests.
You can find all Pharma Suisse Association pharmacies offering rapid tests at www.ihre-apotheke.ch, The link opens in a new window
Where should I go if the pharmacy no longer has a rapid test?
If you can’t find a free pharmacy appointment shortly before dinner with friends or an Easter brunch with your parents, you can at a big one. Corona Test Center try. In addition to standardized PCR tests, many Covid testing centers now offer free rapid tests as well. But here it is also worth checking the Internet in advance to see if prior registration is necessary. At the large Kasernenareal test center in Zurich, for example, you can do a quick test, but you must first register online for an appointment.
A phone call to your GP may also be worthwhile. Lots Medical consultants perform rapid corona tests in addition to PCR tests. The same applies Hospitals.
Important to note: opening hours. In many places, rapid tests are only offered during the week.
Most cantons have an overview of all rapid test locations on their canton’s website.
Canton Websites Overview, The link opens in a new window
Why are individual testing centers closed now of all time?
Despite the extensive federal government testing offensive, individual cantons have decided to close existing testing centers that also currently offer rapid corona testing. In the canton of Bern, as of March 28 there will no longer be a corona drive-in rapid test center in the Bern-Belp airport area. At the Bernexpo test center in the city of Bern, the canton still offers rapid saliva PCR tests. With these, the result is not available in minutes, but at least the same day.
The canton of Lucerne will also close its last drive-in test center on March 26.
Closing testing centers at a time when the population is increasingly supposed to be tested seems counterintuitive.
The cantons would tailor the implementation of the trial strategy to the situation, explains the GDK cantonal health directors conference on request. In addition, specific tests are also increasingly carried out in a decentralized way, that is, in companies or schools.
When will home self-tests finally arrive?
That is not yet known. Rapid saliva antigen tests, i.e. corona self-tests, are not currently available because the Federal Office of Public Health has not validated any products yet. However, as soon as there are validated self-tests, they should be made available to the public free of charge through pharmacies. According to the strategy of the Federal Office of Public Health, five self-tests should be available free of charge per person per month.
