Covid Ban-Rule Change

 Yesterday, in my local state of Hessen....the government (state guys) made the decision that when they use the rule of 3G (meaning you get entry into a bar or restaurant), you are either fully vaccinated, recovered from a Covid bout, or were tested with the 'quickie-test'....there's a change.  

That 'quickie-test' which has been accepted for almost twelve months....isn't free any longer, and most of the 'stands' do the test for 15 to 18 Euro.  

So the new standard?  The PCR test.  Cost factor?  Well....typically....a minimum of forty Euro, and in some cases, up to 70 Euro.

If you were non-vax and accepting to pay 15 Euro for the 'quickie-test'?  That option is gone.

I reviewed my local city news, and they made the amusing comment.....to use a red-light district 'service', you are mandated to do 3G in Hessen.  So you might have had the willing nature to pay 15 Euro for the test, and then pay the hooker 40 Euro for the 'service'.  Now?  The PCR test is just as much as the hooker cost.  

The logic here?  They generally avoid this discussion but make the comment their emphasis is to safeguard the public, and they even hint....vaccinating is the best way of making their goal possible.

To the logical question....were the 'quickie-tests' unreliable?  Well....they don't bring this up.  However, various university groups have looked at the comparison of the PCR test versus the 'quickie-tests'.  There are differing opinions but there's been episodes where the 'quickie-tests' were false-positive, or false-negative.  The quality of the test kits (typically all made in China)?  One could make that point.

If you did accept that argument of poor quality 'quickie-tests'?  Well.....the stores and pharmacy operations still sell them.  Logic here would dictate that they should all be pulled from shelves....right?  Yet, the state didn't really suggest that action.

Looking at the increased infection rate (highest rate since day one for the national rate)....virtually every bit of past history and logic of the federal and state governments would dictate right now to shutdown everything (except grocery stores, gas stations and pharmacies).  Yet, that action can't really be called for, because we reached 'herd-protection' with the immunizations.  

How long will this PCR test thing and 3G rules linger around?  Well...I noticed yesterday preparations in the local town for a Christmas market, and logic here would dictate that the current national infection rate (just over 200, per 100k residents) will climb in November and probably peak around mid-January.  I hate to suggest it going to 250-to-300 but the trend line is heading that direction.  The best advice?  Stay indoors....avoid contact with any and all people....douse yourself constantly with alcohol....and avoid all social habits until winter ends.