From fetish club to church: quirky pop up virus test sites

As infection numbers remain high in Germany, quirky and unusual places keep popping up where Germans can get tested for the virus.

As well as creating more testing options, it's also helping businesses overcome the financial troubles caused by the pandemic.

Berlin's KitKat nightclub has made its premises available for testing instead of for celebrating fetish and techno parties.

The city is famed across the world for its vibrant nightlife, but there's been no clubbing since the pandemic took hold last year.

Clubs including legendary venues like Berghain and KitKat have been closed for the past 13 months.

Now the KitKat club wants to contribute to containing infections through a testing centre that it opened in December.

Anyone who wants to take a test at the club's centre must register online beforehand and present a QR code.

The tests are conducted in the entrance area outside the club on Köpenicker Straße, to avoid contaminating the venue.

Another unusual testing center can be found inside a former Protestant church in Bochum.

It is run by the pharmacy across the street in cooperation with the LutherLAB association for the revival of the deconsecrated "Luther" church.

People who want to take the free rapid test must make an appointment online before.

It's also possible to get tested on water.

At the end of March, a rapid testing center opened on the excursion boat Old Heidelberg in the university city of Heidelberg, in southwest Germany.

Since March 29, the White Fleet has been operating the center with the Wiesbaden-based company Safemeditec.

The boat is currently not being used for its regular activities due to the pandemic.

In just a few days, a concept was developed and the ship was converted into a testing center.

According to Florian Hofstetter, the deputy managing director of the White Fleet Heidelberg, between 200 and 300 people are tested during the week and between 500 and 600 people on weekends.