Corona emergency in Bavaria: three Upper Bavarian districts already close to the border - government is thinking of new rules

Corona in Bavaria: The test breakdown in the Free State is expanding. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Markus Söder speaks out against further easing.

• Tens of thousands of people returning to travel, including around 900 people infected with the corona virus *, did not receive any results from the test stations on Bavarian motorways for weeks.
• Prime Minister Markus Söder is against further easing of the corona measures. (Update from August 21, 8:05 p.m.)
• A study on the Corona hotspot Tirschenreuth provides initial findings. (Update from August 21, 12:37 p.m.)

Update from August 21, 8:05 p.m.: While other federal states are already openly talking about further corona easing, this is unthinkable for Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder in the Free State. "We cannot seriously decide to further relax the situation," said the CSU boss to Deutschlandfunk. He also criticized the fact that Germany lagged two weeks behind the actual infections when assessing the risk areas compared with other countries .

From Söder's point of view, some measures - such as the mask requirement - should even be tightened. In this regard, he advocates uniform national regulations. These could be discussed in the Prime Minister's Conference next week . As an example, he cited the question of whether, as in North Rhine-Westphalia , there is an obligation to wear mouth and nose protection in school lessons. In Bavaria this will also be discussed in the cabinet at the beginning of September.

Söder also spoke out against concerts and football games with thousands of visitors. He also announced that he would like to speak at the conference about a nationwide uniform limit for the number of people at private events, as proposed by Health Minister Jens Spahn . “We still have an incredible number of great, sensible people who provide for themselves and others in an admirable way,” said Söder . But there are also a number of people who do not take this seriously, "and that's why you sometimes have to protect the sensible from the unreasonable".

Corona in Bavaria: Several cities in Bavaria almost reach the early warning value for infections

Update from 4.45 p.m .: In several places in Upper Bavaria, the number of corona infections is approaching the agreed early warning value. According to the State Office for Health and Food Safety (LGL), there were 34.47 new infections within seven days per 100,000 inhabitants in Ebersberg on Friday. In Rosenheim the value was 33.16, in Ingolstadt it was 31.39.

With a value of 35, the health authorities in Bavaria are obliged * to inform the Ministry of Health about the cause of the increasing numbers and about local measures. The threshold agreed by the federal and state governments for stricter restrictions is 50.

In Munich , the numbers are also increasing, with more than 80 new cases being reported per day recently. A few weeks ago it was sometimes only a tenth of that. The 7-day incidence * for Munich was 27.05 on Friday.

In # Munich, 84 new # coronavirus cases were confirmed on Thursday, August 20 (as of 11:59 p.m.). This means that a total of 8,047 infections have been reported so far. More information at https://t.co/8EsX6vLnyK pic.twitter.com/MNg5azJQGC

Even more Corona test breakdowns in Bavaria, the affected family describes something unusual: Huml in distress

Update from 2:15 p.m.: There are further test breakdowns in Bavaria. According to the ARD magazine "Monitor" , test stations at Bavarian airports are also affected. Several hundred passengers at Nuremberg Airport received their test results late - in some cases not at all. There are also other cases in Munich and Memmingen, as the test service provider told Monitor .

How many people have not yet received any test results was not reported, it was a "small fraction". The problems are related to the switch from manual to digital data acquisition .

Ticked off because of problem: ARD magazine #MONITOR: More Corona test breakdowns in #Bayern https://t.co/9Gb26uo4VU #ots

A family of four from Upper Palatinate volunteered to be tested last Friday (August 14). She came back from vacation from Mallorca before the island was declared a risk area. There were already problems with the data acquisition at Albrecht Dürer Airport in Nuremberg, as the family reported to the magazine. According to her impression, the employee who was supposed to merge her personal data with the test numbers had difficulties reading and writing.

Corona virus in Bavaria: Further test breakdowns in Bavaria

The service provider also promised to submit the test result within 24 hours, which was not met. The family has been waiting in vain for the result for a week. Numerous attempts to obtain information by telephone have failed. Instead, the family was emailed to provide their personal information and test numbers again.

Due to the problems at the airports, Bavaria's Minister of Health Melanie Huml in particular is again in distress. On Wednesday, at a meeting of the Bavarian health committee, she said that the errors had been "recognized and eliminated". What the Bavarian government knows about the current problems is unclear. The ministry has so far left a monitor request unanswered.

Coronavirus in Bavaria: Tirschenreuth study with initial findings

Update from 12:37 p.m.: In the Corona hotspot Tirschenreuth in the Upper Palatinate, at least eight percent of the population have been infected with the corona virus , according to initial findings. That said Professor Ralf Wagner from the Institute for Microbiology at the Regensburg University Hospital on Friday. He is one of the two directors of a study in the county. According to preliminary results, it is estimated that, depending on the three test systems used, between eight and nine percent of the study participants have Sars-CoV-2 -specific antibodies.

The number of infected people in whom no antibodies can be detected is the subject of further investigations, explained Wagner. According to the Robert Koch Institute, there are often no antibodies to be found in people demonstrably infected with corona. In their analysis , the scientists at the University Clinics of Regensburg and Erlangen refer to blood samples taken from more than 4200 people between June 29 and July 17.

The Robert Koch Institute, which publishes the nationwide infection figures on a daily basis, reports a seven-day incidence value of 34.5 for the Ebersberg district on Friday. This is the second highest value nationwide. *

Corona in Bavaria: After a test failure: Söder loses nationwide approval

Update from 11:19 a.m.: After the corona test breakdowns in Bavaria, Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) has lost favor with citizens nationwide. This is reported by the news magazine Focus , citing a survey by the Insa Institute. According to this, Söder, who was also a possible candidate for Union Chancellor, achieved an approval rating of 149 out of 300 possible points this week - a minus of ten points compared to the previous week.

Update from August 21st, 6:41 am: According to a survey at the “17:30 Sat.1 Bayern Voter Check”, the Bavarian government damaged itself with the Corona test failure , in which people tested had to wait far too long for their results . 59 percent of those questioned saw it that way. 37 percent saw things differently and 4 percent answered “don't know” or gave no information. Three quarters of the respondents also stated that they found the government's crisis management in Bavaria to be better than in other federal states.

Update from 5:38 p.m.: The corona situation in the Free State is noticeably worsening in some places - the focus is now also on the Ebersberg district east of the state capital of Munich . Nine other cases of infection have now been detected there, as Merkur.de * reports. 41 people in the district are currently infected. A Munich infectiologist also speaks of a mutation in the virus.

The development with a view to the seven-day incidence is explosive . It indicates the number of newly infected people per 100,000 inhabitants in the past week and is now 30.95 for the Ebersberg district - from the threshold value of 35, the local health authorities in Bavaria are obliged to check local  measures  against further  infections  and that  Ministry of Health  on the possible  causes  of the  case increases  to inform. If it climbs to  50  , easing must be  reversed  and  new restrictions imposed  . This value is now getting closer.

The district office had already reported five new cases on Wednesday. Most of them are returning travelers from Croatia, it said. The holiday country has meanwhile been declared a risk area by the Robert Koch Institute .

Corona: Help for Bavarian companies - EU Commission gives the green light

Update from 12.41 p.m.: Almost six weeks after the federal rescue package, the EU Commission has now also approved Bavaria's Corona aid fund for ailing companies. "The Bavarian fund will mobilize liquidity and capital aid totaling 46 billion euros to support medium-sized companies that are so important for Bavaria's real economy in overcoming the crisis," said EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager .

The approval of the fund by the EU competition watchdog has been waiting in Bavaria for weeks. At the beginning of July, the federal government had already received its approval for its rescue package . Since the Bavarian fund is based very much on the construct, numerous adjustments had to be made here. In Munich , therefore, there was already concern that the permit would no longer be issued before the summer break in Brussels.

The so-called Bayern Fund is intended to support the economy , which has been hard hit by the Corona crisis , if necessary. It should also apply to companies that, because of their size with fewer than 250 employees or a lack of nationwide importance, cannot slip under the federal rescue package. The fund includes guarantees of up to 26 billion euros and state investments of up to 20 billion euros.

Corona test disgrace in Bavaria: Söder government in the pillory - now drastic measures are following

Update, August 20, 9:17 a.m.: After the breakdown in the corona tests of holiday returnees , Prime Minister Markus Söder is rebuilding his cabinet: To improve pandemic crisis management, the previous Secretary of State for Construction and Transport, Klaus Holetschek, will change from this Thursday (August 20) unlimited in the Bavarian Ministry of Health. The lawyer is said to support Minister Melanie Huml (both CSU) , who has recently come under massive criticism, in the fight against the virus.

In the wake of the pandemic , Interior Secretary Gerhard Eck (CSU) was also assigned to the Ministry of Health . After the first wave of infections and the number of infections in Bavaria went down weeks ago, he returned to the Ministry of the Interior.

In addition, the operation of the communal corona test centers will in future be controlled by the Ministry of the Interior . Söder had already appointed State Chancellor Florian Herrmann (CSU) as " Corona coordinator " last week . In order to avoid breakdowns, this should “bundle and coordinate all pandemic-related measures and ensure their implementation”. The head of the State Office for Health and Food Safety (LGL), Andreas Zapf , has already had to vacate his place. On Wednesday (August 19) it was also announced that the chief spokesman for the Munich police , Marcus da Gloria Martins , was moving to the Ministry of Health for corona communication *.

Corona test disgrace in Bavaria: Söder government in the pillory - Huml comments on errors in cross-examination

Update, 7.30 p.m.: First all clear in the district of Dingolfing-Landau. After Mamming has been a nationwide corona hotspot for the past few days and weeks , the situation is slowly easing. In another series test among the 218 people in quarantine, only two positive cases were found. A total of 250 infections have been detected in harvest workers and employees of a canning factory in the past few weeks . The number of people infected with corona in Bavaria is rising significantly again. The pandemic officer at the Freising Clinic is very concerned about a second lockdown.

District Administrator Werner Bumeder said of the new developments: " Of course, every infected person is one too many, but the very low number shows that the chain of infection could also be broken within the employees of the affected companies thanks to the consistent measures taken". The district is now no longer above the critical 7-day value of 50 infected per 100,000 inhabitants of the RKI . A total of 53 people who tested positive are currently in quarantine in the district. 41 cases from the factories in Mamming.

Corona in Bavaria: Early testing of holiday returnees is essential

Update, 3:20 p.m.: The special session of the state parliament's health committee has ended. After the communication breakdown regarding the corona tests, Bavaria's Minister of Health Melanie Huml gets a "watchdog" on the side: Munich's most famous police officer *.

Update, 2:47 p.m.: According to the Corona coordinator of the Bavarian government, Florian Herrmann (CSU) , those returning from vacation are currently one of the greatest challenges in the fight against pandemics. According to previous knowledge, the positive rate of the tests among holidaymakers is 1.3 percent. The average is usually between 0.4 and 0.6 percent, according to Herrmann.

He once again made it clear how important it was to test holiday makers early on . "Two, three, four weeks delay would not have been responsible," said Herrmann. He criticized federal states with external borders, including North Rhine-Westphalia and Brandenburg, which did not offer any tests for returnees during the vacation period.

Corona in Bavaria: Returning vacationers is currently the biggest challenge

The mishap that occurred in the test centers is regrettable . But it is also correct that 1200 infected people could not have been identified if the test centers had not been there so quickly. If no tests are carried out, he thinks this is the bigger basic error, said Herrmann, referring to the practice in other federal states.

Update, 2:07 p.m.: Now the opposition's round of questions begins . Health Minister Melanie Huml (CSU) has to answer questions.

Update, 1:45 p.m.: Florian Herrmann, head of the State Chancellery, is now speaking. “We don't want a second lockdown”. One wants to use the strategy of always staying ahead of the situation. The basic knowledge is that the corona virus is not an issue for party political disputes. One must completely subordinate oneself to science and biology, said Herrmann.

Corona special meeting in Bavaria: Herrmann defends Huml - "Are not infallible"

At the moment, the focus is on those returning from vacation. On July 25, testing began at the airports in Bavaria, making it the first country in Germany. "We marched on," said Herrmann.

“It is true that some tests could not be assigned. However, if we hadn't followed the test strategy, 1,200 people would have walked around without a positive test result. ”Now Herrmann is speaking specifically to Health Minister Melanie Huml. Mistakes shouldn't happen, but they can't be avoided. “ We are not infallible, ” says Herrmann. Nobody deserves such harsh criticism after working too hard for the past six months.

Update, 1:38 pm: "Yes, mistakes have happened. Yes, there were teething problems , ”said Huml. She ends her statement with an appeal to continue to pull together in order to master the "greatest challenge since World War II". Thus Huml not offer her resignation .

Update, 1:25 p.m.: Health Minister Melanie Huml (CSU) summarizes Bavaria's test strategy again. They were the first country in Germany to react and offer free tests. They knew that the strategy could only be successful if you start quickly. It is now the case that the tests have been run by private service providers.

Corona special meeting in Bavaria: Melanie Huml apologizes in the state parliament

“I want to and I haven't said it nicely. I apologize to everyone , ”said Huml. The manual data acquisition of the tests was the only possibility at the beginning of the test strategy. This made it difficult to assign the findings. You have to say that so clearly. In addition, the demand for tests was extremely high, especially on the motorways. All of this data had to be entered manually at the beginning, says Huml. "Extensive follow-up research was necessary."

Huml goes on to say: "I want to comment on the current headlines." It was hoped that the problem would be resolved on Tuesday evening last week, but this would not have happened. That's why the day after, on Wednesday, they went directly to the public.

Corona in Bavaria: Special meeting is ongoing - Söder application rejected

Update, December 13th: The chairman of the health committee summarizes the topic again. Melanie Huml is now speaking , followed by Florian Herrmann . Right at the beginning comes an application from the opposition, which Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) would like to "reincite" . He is responsible for the mishaps. The vote in the state parliament shows: CSU and Free Voters vote against, the opposition in favor. The application is thus rejected .

Update, 12.47 p.m.: The special session begins in a few minutes, at which Health Minister Melanie Huml (CSU) has to answer questions from the opposition. We report live from 13 hours .

Corona in Bavaria: does Melanie Huml fly? Special session in the live stream

Update, 09:52: The special session on the corona test glitch in Bavaria where the Bavarian Health Minister Melanie Huml (CSU) in parliament again answer questions must be, from 13 hours here in the news ticker streaming LIVE transmitted. It is currently unclear whether there will be other members of the government in addition to Huml - such as Prime Minister Markus Söder .

The background to the special session is that Huml and her ministry apparently knew about the delays in the results before the test breakdown was announced . Huml only announced this to the public and apparently also to Söder two days later. As a justification, she said that the full dimension was only visible on the day of the announcement, when it became clear that the people could not be informed quickly as initially hoped. The opposition sees it differently. She accuses the government of ineptitude and unnecessary delay. Also calls for his resignation in Humls direction have already been expressed.

Corona test scandal in Bavaria: Minister Huml probably knew about it earlier - will a resignation now follow?

Update, August 19, 6:52 a.m.: The health committee of the Bavarian state parliament is meeting today (Wednesday) for a special meeting to again talk about the misconduct in the corona tests for travelers returning to Bavaria. The meeting, which was called at the instigation of the opposition, is scheduled at 1 p.m. - despite the parliamentary summer break.

After a breakdown with corona tests in Bavaria: Huml has to answer questions in a special session

It has not yet been determined whether other members of the government will be present in addition to Health Minister Melanie Huml (CSU) . However, the presence of Prime Minister Markus Söder and Minister of State Florian Herrmann (both CSU) had been requested from the opposition circles . Until recently, Herrmann himself headed the state government's disaster management team .

Breakdown with Bavarian corona tests: 46 people could not be identified

Background of the special session is the test breakdown of the Bavarian government at around 44,000 corona tests, the holiday returnees at Bavarian motorway service stations, airports and train stations had are invalid. The data were treated improperly , in the end 949 people who tested positive did not know about their infection. 46 of them have not yet been informed - and probably no longer will.

Corona test breakdown for holiday returnees: Huml knew about it earlier than claimed

It could now be particularly critical for Melanie Huml. The Minister of Health had already offered her resignation twice in the past week - which, however , had been rejected by Prime Minister Söder . On Tuesday (August 18), however, it came out that Huml knew of the test breakdown much earlier than stated .

In a press conference last Wednesday (August 12), Huml claimed to have found out about the breakdown that morning. In fact, she had known about the events since Monday (August 10th). Now Huml has to answer questions again. Whether she will offer her resignation again is unclear, but possible.

A momentous party was also held in a town in Bavaria. The DJ of the celebration was infected with the corona virus *. He had previously returned from a trip to Croatia.

Corona test scandal on Bavarian motorways - Minister Huml apparently knew much earlier

Munich - Bavaria had pushed forward again under Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) in the coronavirus * crisis , apparently wanted to do everything better and faster in the pandemic. Probably a little too fast, as it turned out later, because the Bavarian health department under Melanie Huml (CSU) could not guarantee the smooth test procedure. It wasn't just a lack of staff. The intermediate subcontractors were unable to deliver the tests at short notice. Tens of thousands of people waited an alarmingly long time for their results. Including 900 infected. In the end, some of the volunteers who jumped into the rush for the lack of government personnel on the highways were infected. But that should not be all in the scandal at Bavaria's test stations.

Health Minister Huml is said to have known about the chaos at the Bavarian Corona * test stations much earlier than she had claimed in public. This is reported by the Süddeutsche Zeitung, citing an email from the State Office for Health and Food Safety (LGL) that the newspaper has received.

Corona test scandal in Bavaria: Did Health Minister Huml know much earlier?

According to this, an email is said to have been sent to the ministerial office on Monday, August 10th at 12.30 p.m. Also to her head of office and another person in the Ministry of Health. In this message, one of the subcontractors who evaluate the Bavarian corona tests on the motorways , the laboratory company Eurofins, reported on the conditions. According to the Süddeutscher Zeitung, the mail said there were more than 40,000 samples and more than 300 positive cases, the results of which could not be transmitted.

However, Huml only informed the public two days after this mail, on Wednesday, August 12, about the chaotic situation around the coronavirus test stations for return travelers . On that Wednesday, she stated that she had only found out about the situation in the morning, just a few hours earlier. Huml does not yet seem to have commented on the allegations that her ministry was informed of the worrying developments days before their hastily convened press conference.

Corona virus in Bavaria: The test scandal is drawing wider circles - Söder has drawn personnel consequences

Huml had subsequently offered Prime Minister Markus Söder to resign. But this refused - but still drew personal consequences. A renowned doctor at the head of the state office had to leave.

Those who want to hike to the Alpspitze near Garmisch-Partenkirchen should be well equipped. But not every tourist sees this - which leads to sometimes embarrassing scenes.

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