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ARCHIVED - Murcia pharmacies run out of antigen tests
Sales of Covid tests in the Region have exploded in the run-up to Christmas
A combination of the upcoming Christmas festivities and social gatherings, coupled with the spread of the Omicron variant, has led to a surge in over-the-counter antigen tests in Spain, which can be purchased in most pharmacies for less than eight euros.
But the Region of Murcia is feeling the pressure, with many stockists in danger of running out of Covid testing kits.
The week between December 7 and 13 set a new record in Murcia, with 36,450 tests sold, according to the IQVIA. This represents a 3.1% increase on the previous week and is 32.7% higher than at the peak of the pandemic.
Now, many pharmacists in the municipality of Cartagena have reported that they are completely out of stock, and with the ongoing supply crisis, manufacturers are making no guarantees that the tests will be replenished before the holidays. Chemists have also complained that the antigen tests now cost double what they did when they were first made available for sale, while other European countries like the UK and Iceland are giving them out for free.
Despite the lack of stock, pharmacists in the Region consider it a positive sign that more and more people are choosing to test themselves before attending Christmas parties and events.
“I think it is very necessary,” one professional stated. “Although we agree that they are not 100% reliable, it gives you a little more security when you go to dinner with people with whom you do not live regularly.”
Image: Archive
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