Germany probes possible fraud after surge in testing centers

BERLIN (AP) — German authorities are investigating allegations of fraud involving the massive rollout of free coronavirus tests. Those tests are now being carried out in converted cellphone stores, beauticians and art galleries across the country. Germans have to present a negative test result to enter non-essential stores, visit restaurants or bars, or attend small-scale cultural events. The government pays for one free test per person each week, which has led to a proliferation of more than 15,000 businesses offering antigen tests that provide results within 20 minutes. The country’s health minister said Tuesday “there is the suspicion, a very well-founded suspicion after everything I’ve seen, that there’s also been fraud.”