COVID-19: Mass Free Testing Proposed in Hungary

More and more people are going to the doctor with suspected COVID-19 symptoms in Hungary, with allergies and fall upper respiratory viruses making it much more difficult to diagnose the coronavirus. An expert suggests that antigen tests should provided free of charge.

“An antigen test costs around HUF 1,000-2,000, which is not a huge amount, and the results are available in ten minutes. It should be sold in bulk, or perhaps provided free of charge to the general public. In many Western European countries, it is provided free of charge or for a small amount of money," Balázs Rékassy, a doctor and health economist, told the Hungarian financial news site Portfolio.

"Easier access to tests, which should also be free of charge, would greatly help to rule out infection. Among doctors, it has been suggested that patients with typical respiratory symptoms who come to the clinic should be admitted separately and that immediate antigen tests should be used," Balázs Rékassy added.

There are also fewer test centers currently operating in Hungary, as capacity was reduced after the third wave of the epidemic, but demand is increasing with the rise of the fourth wave, he noted.

The expert also criticizes the holding of mass events in the country without restrictions, which sends out the message that the presence of the coronavirus is not taken seriously.

The events of the national holiday of August 20 and the Eucharistic Congress were exempted by the government from the epidemic restrictions, and these have already had a visible impact on the rise in the number of infected people, with the unvaccinated being the main ones in need of hospital care. Symptoms of those admitted to hospital include pneumonia, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing.