Opening when there are high numbers of corona cases is risky.
But testing and swift vaccination should offer more security.
The necessary materials are required for this.
That’s the problem.
Update from March 4, 4:14 p.m.:
Frustration is very often an issue in the Corona crisis.
Corona tests are currently a trigger for this.
Baden-Württemberg's Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) criticized Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) for an insufficient number of rapid tests.
"As for the tests, I'm very disappointed with the federal government," said Kretschmann.
There have been "big announcements" for free trials for everyone.
At the summit, the disillusionment: "The announcement has not been followed, nothing has been ordered." The available capacities are comparatively small
(see initial report).
The criticism also joins Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig (SPD).
“It is disappointing that the federal government has not taken any precautions so that the self-tests can now be sent to the federal states, for example to secure daycare centers and schools.
I have no understanding of why self-tests that are now on the market go to discount stores but have not been ordered for day care centers and schools, ”she said.
The offer by the federal government to be able to order such tests via a platform from April came too late.
Until then, the countries would have to help themselves.
Corona in Germany: Are there enough tests?
First report from March 4th, 11:22 am:
Berlin - Does Germany have to remain in lockdown because vaccination is going too slowly and there are too few tests available?
This question is widespread in the minds of some after the heads of government fought for over nine hours on Wednesday about the further Corona path.
According to Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU), it was “tough negotiations”.
"Intensive" discussions translated from the political jargon usually means something like "there was a lot of fighting".
And according to the information that leaked once more from the chatty group on Wednesday, it seems to have been quite heated between some officials, for example between Markus Söder (CSU) and Finance Minister Olaf Scholz (SPD).
The heads of the federal and state governments seem to have held up a crucial topic for several hours: vaccination and testing.
Because that's exactly where there is a sticking point: These two tools are the way to step-by-step openings and out of the corona pandemic.
Everyone agrees on that.
"In the weeks and months to come, until all citizens could be offered a vaccination, regular corona tests will be an important component in enabling more normality and safe contacts," the decision paper says.
A central element, even if the tests do not give one hundred percent certainty that the result will be correct.
Corona tests should enable openings to be opened step by step: But is there enough material at all?
But the necessary conditions must also be met for such plans.
The
Bild
reported that according to its information, enough tests would not be available until April.
Also
RTL
and
n-tv
reported, Spahn gave no order of self-tests in order.
In a press conference shortly before the end of the Corona summit, Thuringia's Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow (left) rejected the fact that there was also strong criticism of Spahn from the Prime Minister.
"There was some irritation among us Prime Ministers about the question of rapid antigen tests in relation to lay tests." It took a while to unravel it.
But Spahn made it clear that 40 million units of rapid antigen tests “have been ordered for Germany”.
After all, Spahn could not be criticized for the fact that the test offer has not yet been called up.
How Ramelow got this number and what period he meant by it remained unclear at first.
The
Handelsblatt
recently reported that, according to the Ministry of Health, 500 million rapid tests were secured for the year 2021 through framework agreements with manufacturers.
Another 300 million tests would come through an EU procurement program.
It is not entirely clear how many tests would be available at short notice.
The ministry has received feedback from the companies that 150 million rapid tests are currently in stock.
Corona tests: "At some point and on a large scale, there will also be self-tests"
But every citizen should now have the opportunity to be tested for free once a week.
With around 80 million inhabitants, a lot of material is needed.
Where should the tests come from?
In any case, the head of the Chancellery, Helge Braun, assured the ARD “Morgenmagazin” that there was sufficient capacity in Germany for the test strategy, which the opposition, however, doubted.
“There are very, very many rapid tests available.
The manufacturers are stockpiling hundreds of millions, ”said Braun.
Sales are just starting with the self-tests.
In the first few weeks, the conventional rapid tests in particular would continue to be used.
Spahn also emphasized in the Bundestag on Thursday that tests carried out by trained staff are available.
On the self-test, however, Vice Chancellor Scholz expressed himself rather cautiously in the ARD “Morgenmagazin”: “At some point and on a large scale there will also be self-tests.” At some point, not yet.
Combating Corona in Germany: Now a task force is to come
Because for this purpose, a task force is now being set up.
In the eyes of the opposition in particular, it comes much too late: "Incredibly enough that the MPK only talks about a task force for the procurement of rapid tests after more than a year of pandemic," writes FDP politician Marco Buschmann.
As the
picture
wants to know, Merkel is said to be pissed off at Spahn.
Little vaccine, no tests - yes, that upsets many Germans too.
Since scraps of such rounds are pierced again and again, sometimes without context, it is unclear to what extent this claim is really true.
At the same time, several media reported that Merkel had protected Spahn from the country leaders.
(cibo / dpa)