Since yesterday, anyone who wants to have a free rapid corona test should be able to undergo.
The emphasis is on “should”, because this is currently not possible anywhere.
The federal government and the free state argue, the victims are the district, doctors, pharmacists and the BRK.
District
- In the parking lot in front of the "Ortisei pharmacy" in Peißenberg there is a caravan as a "Corona test station".
Pharmacist Philipp Kircher offers rapid tests here.
However, not free of charge, as promised by federal and state politicians.
Kircher currently has to collect 25 euros per test - unless the person who wants to be tested has had contact with corona patients in the past 14 days.
It is unclear when the “people's tests” promised by Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn can actually be offered.
Because central questions have not yet been clarified, as it says on request at the district office.
The federal and state governments argue about who gets the tests.
In Berlin they think it is enough if the federal government pays the costs.
The consequence: Nobody really knows and the population is deeply frustrated.
According to the editorial team, a young mother from Weilheim wanted to have her little boy tested yesterday because he was in contact with a suspected corona case.
At the pediatrician she was told that free tests are not being offered because it is unclear who will pay the costs.
The same picture emerged with the pharmacies.
Nobody knows what, there are tests, but only against cash payment.
Grudgingly, the young mother bought 45 euros there in order to quickly be certain that her child is fine.
The BRK's rapid tests, which are still offered four times a week in Weilheim, would have cost only 25 euros, as reported by district manager Hans Eberl.
"We haven't been able to offer the tests free of charge either, because nobody knows how it should be billed," he reports.
The BRK already established its rapid test service before Christmas, when many had to rely on such a test when they wanted to visit their relatives.
In the meantime, a quick test has been offered on site in many nursing homes, says Eberl, which is why the number of tests has decreased somewhat.
Nevertheless, the demand is still there.
The BRK has carried out a total of around 2500 tests since the end of December.
“We have offered the district that we can massively expand this offer and offer the so-called 'people's tests' across the board,” said Eberl yesterday.
With the support of the volunteers, around 20 appointments at a total of six locations per week have to be managed.
Well over 1000 free tests could be carried out by the BRK.
Tests will be offered daily in the east, west and in the middle of the district.
That would mean that tests in Weilheim are possible on one day in the Mitte area, then the next day in Peißenberg, then again in Weilheim.
Things could run similarly in Schongau / Peiting and Penzberg / Sindelsdorf.
The infrastructure for making appointments already exists at the BRK: You can choose and reserve a free test appointment on the website https://bit.ly/3v2buqp.
So theoretically it could start quickly now.
If, yes, if anyone knew what Berlin and Munich have now specifically planned.
But nobody knows that, said District Administrator Andrea Jochner-Weiß yesterday at the request of the local newspaper.
“Here we have a fantastically worked out plan by the BRK that would clarify all questions,” she says.
And then she could not give BRK boss Eberl the green light to start the free tests on Wednesday because nothing had been decided in the Free State.
Eberl does not know whether the federal government will procure the tests or the state, whether the district has to order them or whether he will use the previous suppliers of the BRK.
It is unclear whether and to what extent the material and personnel costs will be covered.
As before, it is also in the room that no carriers like the BRK take over the tests at all, but the general practitioners and pharmacies take over and bill directly.
Nobody knows how to do it.
“I can’t sleep at all that slowly,” sighed the district administrator.
The impression of the past few months is confirmed: In Berlin and Munich, full-bodied promises are made, the organization and implementation are then pressed on the eyes of the districts, which in the end have to wait months for their costs to be reimbursed (we reported).