Testing continues in Dachau, but much less

In view of the falling number of infections and the rapid relaxation of corona measures, the demand from citizens for corona tests is decreasing.

The operators of the test stations are already reacting to this with adjusted opening times.

In the long term, however, the comprehensive test offer should no longer be profitable.

Dachau

- Corona test centers recently did not have a good reputation.

Millions of tax dollars are said to have been wasted through a suspected accounting fraud.

A station in Dachau-Ost was also closed on suspicion of improper business conduct.

Pharmacist spokesman Max Lernbecher, who himself has set up several test stations in the district for his brother-in-law, asserts: "With us in the district - apart from the case in Dachau-Ost - there were no ganovoid elements!" , Doctors and BRK as well as other organizations, financially and qualitatively cleanly worked.   

In addition, according to the pharmacist's spokesman, the district office “had a very good hand with us”.

In fact, Sina Török confirms the district office spokeswoman, the district was in the fortunate position of not having to rely on test centers from outside the industry due to the range of tests offered by pharmacies, organizations and doctors.

As a result, the district office - going beyond the requirements of the Federal Ministry of Health - was able to send an additional questionnaire to the operator;

and on the basis of these answers it was then decided who is allowed to test where in the district and who is not.

BRK has nine test sites in the district

But even this high hurdle was taken by many.

The BRK alone offered test sites at nine locations in the district.

The Flora pharmacy of Lernbecher and Sandner OHG shouldered test sites in Dachau, Hebertshausen and Haimhausen with pharmacist Uwe Sandner.

In view of the test obligation, which was largely abolished yesterday, and the remuneration reform announced by Health Minister Jens Spahn, many people in charge are now wondering whether the operation of test centers will still be profitable in the long term.   

Apotheker Lernbecher has already found an answer for himself, he says: "To be honest: I don't see any great need for the many test sites." In view of the low customer frequency and poor payment, it would no longer be worthwhile.

Even now “we no longer order the tests in large quantities”.

Whereby Lernbecher emphasizes: “In Dachau it wasn't about the money!

We always wanted to support retailers with the test option.

Without our test capacity, nobody would have come into the shops! ”He is therefore“ happy that it is no longer necessary to get a negative report for every shopping trip or visit to a café.

Because it wasn't nice work. "

But even if the pharmacies close their test stations over the summer, Lernbecher promises to be able to react in the fall - in the event of a new wave.

“The infrastructure is now in place, the work is done.

We would have no problem building test centers out of the ground again. "

Rapid tests will be around for a long time

It is different with the BRK, as district manager Paul Polyfka admits. The enormous test capacity that the Dachau BRK currently has depends on the vaccination center. When that closes - this will be the case on September 30th as planned - "we will not have as many medical specialists to use for the tests". In the short term, however, Polyfka guarantees those citizens who “want to be on the safe side will continue to receive a test offer”. Unlike many private providers, the BRK is not purely about profit; and even “leaner funding” from the Ministry of Health could be absorbed over the summer with volunteers. Where and how the BRK will test in the coming weeks and months, “we will take a look this week,” says Polyfka. But it is already clear today:The BRK will make its contribution to fighting the pandemic - “as long as the pandemic exists”!

Dr.

Christian Günzel, medical doctor and member of the district's pandemic coordination group, is convinced.

The elimination of the obligation to test is therefore - from a medical point of view - not just a cause for joy.

The rapid tests are simply "ideal for recognizing individual infected people".

That is why he appeals to the still unvaccinated part of the population to continue "to act responsibly and in any case to continue to do a rapid test before larger gatherings".

The 50 percent of the district citizens who have already been vaccinated, however, are no longer concerned with the issue.

And even at the district office, there is currently no reason to reduce all test capacities.

"Vacationers and employees" would continue to use the positions, emphasizes spokeswoman Török.