What is known about the Corona breakdown in Bavaria

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Employees from the Bavarian Red Cross at the Hochfelln-Nord rest area 

In Bavaria, of all places, which has shown itself to be particularly well organized in fighting pandemics, there was a massive glitch when determining coronavirus test results. Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) called the incident "highly annoying" at a press conference and announced that he would work up the errors.

There should be structural changes, Health Minister Melanie Huml (CSU) remains in office.

Who is affected by the breakdown at the Bavarian border?

On Wednesday, it became known that more than 44,000 return travelers had not received any feedback after their coronavirus test in Bavaria. These included numerous people who had tested positive for the virus. Some had been waiting for the result for two weeks.

In the meantime, 908 cases have been identified and assigned, it said on Thursday at the press conference. These would be contacted since the morning. She couldn't say whether everyone has already been reached, said Huml. If there are more than 100 other results, it is still unclear whether they are people who have already been contacted. It was not known when the other more than 40,000 people would be informed.

Where do the people come from?

According to Söder and Huml, it is still unclear how many of the 908 positive testers from Bavaria and how many come from the rest of Germany. The Minister of Health only referred to a sample from the past few weeks on Wednesday. In this, 40 percent of the tests came from people from Bavaria. Many people only gave cell phone numbers in the tests, said Huml. When information about the result should be asked where the people concerned live.

What does this mean for those affected?

For returnees from risk areas, a quarantine obligation applies until the test result is available. However, there is no such obligation for holidaymakers returning from other countries - including almost all EU countries. So if these men, women and children do not voluntarily stay at home until their test results, they could spread the virus further. If you don't get a result by the weekend, you should do a second test, said Söder.

Why did the delay occur?

According to Andreas Zapf, former President of the Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety, the reasons for the delay are primarily problems with the manual transmission of the data and the unexpectedly high use of the test stations. He spoke of a "breakdown". Some forms from those tested were filled out incompletely or difficult to read, and they also had to be compared with the codes of throat swabs.

The test stations were set up under time pressure. Initially, this was only possible with the support of many volunteers. The stations are now being handed over to private service providers, as was the standard for tests at airports.

Where were the transmission problems most severe?

According to Health Minister Huml, the problems mainly occurred at rest stops and train stations. 60,000 of the total of around 85,000 tests were therefore carried out there.

How do volunteer testers react to the breakdown?

Aid organizations such as the Bavarian Red Cross (BRK) initially operated the test stations at the motorway service stations. After the breakdown, the BRK criticized the authorities. The Bavarian aid organizations were commissioned by the Free State to set up five test stations within one day. In doing so, they had oriented themselves to the requirements of the State Office for Health and Food Safety (LGL) and the health authorities.

"Since the LGL was unable to provide the appropriate software in this short time, the travelers had to be recorded manually using forms," ​​said the BRK. At the same time it rejected "allusions that suggest that the aid organizations are (partially) to blame for this problem". It is regrettable that the "sweaty work of the volunteers" is put in a negative light, said a spokesman.

Where are travelers tested in Bavaria?

Since July 25, travelers have been able to have themselves tested on arrival at Munich and Nuremberg airports, and since the beginning of August in Memmingen. Initially, the offer was voluntary. For holidaymakers from risk areas, a nationwide test has been in effect since Saturday.

In addition, the Bavarian state government had test stations set up at the main train stations in Munich and Nuremberg as well as at the motorway service stations Hochfelln-Nord (A8), Inntal-Ost (A93) and Donautal-Ost (A3).

What consequences will be drawn from the breakdown?

After the breakdown became known, Prime Minister Söder canceled a visit to the North Sea planned for Thursday and Friday. Söder called the "error" at the test centers "very, very annoying" and announced that all structures would be "checked immediately".

On Thursday afternoon, Söder announced organizational changes in the state government. The previous President of the Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety, Andreas Zapf, is moving to the Ministry of Health. Furthermore, the capacity of employees in connection with the corona tests will be increased by 100 people.

The Bavarian SPD had demanded that Health Minister Huml resign after the breakdown. "Ms. Huml has to resign and Mr. Söder has to explain himself," said General Secretary Uli Grötsch on Bayerischer Rundfunk. "He has to repent because as Prime Minister he simply has not lived up to his responsibility and has played with the health of the people in Bavaria." Söder said he had turned down Huml's offer of resignation. "I have faith in her," he said. The errors would have to be remedied and should not be repeated.

sen / bbr / dpa