So I went down to langstrasse over the weekend with some friends to visit some bars we hadn't seen in a while.

I was surprised to see multiple "free COVID test" stations scattered around, offering 15min tests for those that weren't vaccinated to get into the bars.

I assume these "free" tests are paid by health insurance funds or tax funds right?

Am I the only one who isn't so happy to pay for someone to go clubbing? No issues with communal paying of tests for people with symptoms, but paying for the tests of people who want to go clubbing (and are too stubborn to get vaccinated?)

Not overly happy, but to play devils advocate, some of there people might only have had their first vaccination recently and therefore are not yet eligible for the fully vaccinated status.

If the choice is between waiting 2 weeks before going clubbing, and paying for your own test... that would be ok for me...

Fair enough, although I know of my brother who was very frustrated in Ireland as the 18-25 group were among the last to get a shot, and to enter many places they insisted on a pass. So he and his friends were excluded from some things. Suck it up I suppose, but they were pretty sour for a few weeks.

I'm in favour of making the tests cost money in a few weeks time.

My knee-jerk reaction to freebie tests for willfully unvaccinated clubbers was 'grumble grumble grumble.'

However, once my knees un-jerked, I think it's a good idea.

As a society we have to do whatever we can to stop spreader events if we are ever to get this virus and it's potential for manifold mutations under control. And dear doG, I want this pandemic to end!

Yes, in a perfect world we'd each act responsibly for the good of society, and by doing so do the best for ourselves as well. I had hoped we'd see a more civil and civic-minded society emerge through this hardship...

... but obviously that hasn't happened. If we have seen anything these past 18 months, is that there are a whole lotta folks who do not understand how their actions and decisons impact others and add to prolonging the pandemic.

So we have to address the reality that some people will not do what is needed if it is the least bit inconvienent to themselves. Sad but reality. Thus we have to make it as easy as possible for folks to comply with basic safety measures.

I may grumble as a tax payer, but I recognize that right now public health measures outweigh all other considerations. Right now I'm behind anything that helps to get more people on board to stop the spread.

Time will come when the tests are no longer gratis. I only hope that paying for tests becomes a motivator to vaccinate, and not a reason to look for illicit get-arounds.

At this point, I just want this pandemic to end. If I have to pay a bit more tax, I'm willing to do that - for now. doG knows, my tax contribution goes to fund a lot of sillier stuff. At least those free tests for clubbers mean I might get something in return, in (hopefully) lower infection rates and a light at the end of the COVID tunnel.


(Do we know who funds those free test popups? Is it possible that an interest group or charity has set them up? I did a quick search, but could not find anything...)

It may not only support the good health numbers but also support the local business. People might avoid using local services otherwise, whether it is eating out, cinema, concerts. Our economy needs a boost so I think there are a couple of things that the free testing is supposed to cover. The economy is not going to reinvent itself and I think free testing helps the businesses, too.

I agree with MC.

Personally I think I've done extremely well out of the pandemic.

Just not having to pay for the office canteen every day over the last year and half must have saved me more than 3000 CHF. I'm working from home in clothes that I wouldn't want to be seen in at work. that's money saved. I'm going to restaurants and bars much less and definitely haven't been to any dancing event or such in coming on for two years. That's heaps of cash saved by doing nothing at all.

But I think at the other end of the scale, this involuntary ascetic lifestyle is hurting those who live off the bar and clubbing scene. All the money that is flushing around in my pocket is hurting those in whose pockets it could have been, had times been different.

It's in their open interest to get people back into bars and parties. Both by putting more pressure on the government and by making it easier for people to come back. I'm actually more surprised it's taken them this long to awaken to the fact.

Maybe other business sectors could take a leaf out of their book. Maybe people like airlines could start by whinging and whining less and actually being proactive in filling their planes by offering free tests.

1st October

https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/swiss-c...-rise/46860474

On the one hand it is go)od that people are being tested before clubbing, but on the other they should be getting vaccinated which is only slightly more difficult ie sticking something up your nose vs sticking something in your arm.

Perhaps these places should do both (An intramuscular injection cane be given after 10 minutes training)

They could get some ex-Russian spies to inject unvaccinated people surreptitiously - with sharp umbrellas and or simply with syringes.

They could easily get away with it in the hustle and bustle of a night club.

From what I've heard, you can now get jabbed in IKEA (in Germany I think)

For some reason this conjures up unpleasant images of them stabbing people with Allen keys.

I think I'd prefer to be stabbed with a Russian umbrella.

Exactly. I feel like it is easy to forget that we are not the perfect customers who will generate the venues of so many businesses that have been struggling. My liter of kefir a week and a few books and a plant fertilizer I buy will not save whole streets of the local club/bar/culture/food industry, especially since I cook at home and can't be bothered to go clubbing instead of sports. But the young ones have really became bitter monks since how many times can you go hiking instead of a proper date in a bar/resto/cinema/dance floor.

My question would be, though, if China should not donate tests. Since they refused cooperating with WHO on origins of covid?

__________________
"L'homme ne peut pas remplacer son coeur avec sa tete, ni sa tete avec ses mains." J.H. Pestalozzi

“The only difference between a rut and a grave is a matter of depth.” S.P. Cadman

"Imagination is more important than knowledge." A. Einstein

I think maybe even somebody like Google might benefit from donating tests. So much data there.

Talking about data, anybody else had the survey from the University of Maryland pushed on them by Facebook?

It looks like blatant data gathering to me, with little of scientific value. I wonder who is really behind it.

Google donates data to China which then should donate tests to us. Yes? Sorted. (in a UK accent)

Not sure about Switzerland, but China has donated MANY tests to countries (as well as vaccines)