I hear from my friends in Germany that they can do a free covid-test? May I ask whether anyone knows whether we have such free testing in Switzerland?

Thanks

Covid tests here are free if you need one (ie you have symptoms or have been in contact with someone infected). Not free just because you want one or for travel etc.

To add to that, when you get a test you'll be told to quarantine for a certain amount of time (at least that's what we encountered in Kt Bern). Even if you pay for the test for travel purposes and have no symptoms, you're told to quarantine until your negative result comes back. If you're getting a test due to symptoms or exposure I think the quarantine might be longer.

We did the self-pay test for travel in Dec. The clinic told us that the info for all individuals who are tested is shared with the cantonal authorities, so it's wise to follow the rules on quarantine even if you don't have symptoms. Otherwise you might find they don't let you travel.

In Neuchâtel they will not test for free if you do not have symptoms, even if you live with someone who has tested positive. And if and when you test positive, you get a phone call from an official at Cantonal authorities, followed by a letter to confirm and tems of isolation, and your GP is contacted.

My experience from Luzern:

Kanton Spital, tests are free if you have symptoms or if you think you have symptoms or if you were in contact with someone etc They do NOT do travel test.

Synlab has cheap travel PCR test (105 CHF) , they don't ask you for quarantine, frankly I do not understand why anyone would be doing that.

Permanence at Banhof, test is partially free if you have symptoms (you have to pay admin costs, ca 80 CHF) , but they will demand they you do health check (another 200 CHF), I suggest to avoid them.

What's the purpose of testing ?



We've had three tests done for members of our household, due to having some symptoms (so far, all were negative) - they were done by the nurse at our local doctor's office (they set up a separate room for this).


Basically if you are symptomless then a test today that's negative does not mean much... the next day you could be positive.

Is it legal? The pharmacies are not allowed to take anything on top of the costs of quick test.

I'm not 100% sure, but I think the 80 Francs is allowed to cover administrative costs and all the PPE required. The clinic we went to charged 80 and the lab itself 106.

Administratively, the clinic had to take our names, address, phone number, email, and insurance information even though we were self-pay. They coordinate with the lab that processes the sample.

You should see how much kit they need for one test. The nurse had on a mask, a face shield, 2 pairs of gloves, booties, and a gown. All of that was disposed of and redone after she tested Mr Wishes. And again after she tested me. If you do that for every person it's going to add up. There was also the swab in a sealed package, a tube in a sealed package (to put the swab in after it was used), and the special envelope that was used to transport the sample to the lab. She put all her used PPE and the wrappers from the swab and tube into a small rubbish sack, which was then put into a larger, yellow rubbish sack that I think was marked biohazard or something.

All of that for two people who had no symptoms and only needed a test to travel!

Canton VD does following, OP: you go to coronacheck.ch which will offer a page for your canton. You fill up the questionaire and based on your answers they address you to a list of cantonal CV test sites. You contact them to book an appointment, it could take a while to wait. Then you show up with the paper from coronacheck.ch that told you to get tested. You get tested (by a Dr.) and they give you instructions to go home and isolate until your hear from cantonal Dr. service about being neg/pos. It is free, if you have symptoms or were in contact with somebody CV positive. I was very impressed, despite waiting a little for a test time available and waiting a little for results, too.

You can do a CV test on your own, there are quite a few private clinics offering it. You may not have to pay the test itself but they charge for an obligatory Dr. appointment, to check your symptoms. The advantage there was shorter waiting time for the CV randez-vous.

__________________
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I don't know, in opinion of my Swiss collages I was "Switzerlanded" and I should try to challenge it, especially the "additional test". Calculating how much time and nerves it would take me, I decided not to.

Last Tuesday, we all had +38°C
fevers. So we trooped off to the test centre. By the time we got there
1 was still +38°C.
2 of use were normal
1 was slightly abnormally low


We all received negative results and certificates.

Here is an article on SRF about Permanence and additional costs for tests: https://m.srf.ch/news/schweiz/uebere...en-fuer-aerger

They cancelled all the bills for additional costs to all clients who turned to SRF with this problem. Since now they let people fill the paper beforehand where they could specify if they need a paid consultation of the doctor in addition to the test.

nejc, you colleagues were right. Most probably you can get your bill cancelled as well.

For travel test maybe, but not for a free test fully paid by the government.

One purpose is fulfilling the requirement of some countries that you travel to/through.