無症状でも無料検査　コロナ対策、１２日に「全体像」―政府方針

　政府は、新型コロナウイルスの感染再拡大に備え、無症状者のＰＣＲ検査と抗原検査を無料で実施する方針を固めた。１２日に取りまとめる対策の「全体像」に盛り込む。これまで「目詰まり」も指摘されてきた検査体制を拡充し、早期の感染収束につなげるのが狙い。政府関係者が９日、明らかにした。
　感染の有無を調べるＰＣＲ検査は、発熱などの症状や濃厚接触者の場合、医師や保健所が必要と認めれば無料で行われている。一方、今年以降の全国的な感染再拡大では、一部の自治体などが症状のない人を無料で検査したが、限定的な動きにとどまっている。（2021/11/09-19:31）

The Japanese government plans to conduct antigen and polymerase chain reaction tests for the novel coronavirus for people with no COVID-19 symptoms free of charge, sources familiar with the matter said Tuesday.
   The measure will be included in an outline of steps, due out Friday, that the government will take to bring the pandemic under control at an early date, the sources said.
   Free PCR tests are offered to people with symptoms such fever and close contacts of patients if doctors and public health offices find it necessary to do so. In addition, a limited number of municipalities have conducted such tests.
   People faced difficulty taking even paid tests this summer amid the country's fifth wave of infections. Experts have expressed concerns that the number of asymptomatic COVID-19 patients may have increased due to a lack of tests.
   Under the government's plans, testing kits will be available at convenience stores, drugstores and elsewhere free of charge should there be a resurgence of the virus, according to the sources.