Kauferinger cinema operator criticizes Landsberg health department

Kaufering - To go to the cinema, you actually need a negative PCR test that is no longer than 48 hours old.

But getting one is either time-consuming and expensive, or expensive (the KREISBOTE reports).

The Filmpalast in Kaufering is now opposed to the 3G plus rule - and drops the “plus”, ie the requirement for a PCR instead of a rapid test.

The concept that can help here are the so-called 'party tests', PCR pooling tests. These are carried out, for example, in the neighboring district of Augsburg for various clubs - the Kesselhaus, the K-Klub, or the PM Untermeitingen. They apply exclusively to clubs and events and are financed by the organizers themselves as well as an event and marketing agency, the test laboratory there and an Austrian manufacturer of laboratory technology for the cultural sector. During the tests, around ten samples are examined together in the laboratory. If a sample is positive, the additional duplicate samples taken from each person are tested again individually. If a pool test is negative, ten people can be 'done' with one test.

The Filmpalast in Kaufering had hoped to be able to carry out pool tests as well. "Given the options available, it is unfortunately currently not possible in the Landsberg district to obtain the necessary 3G-plus PCR test evidence without high costs," criticized its marketing manager Sebastian Kremer in a press release. Because who pays 75 euros - that's how much a PCR test costs on average - to be able to go to the cinema? Kremer also criticizes the long distances. However, he was obviously not aware that a pharmacy in Landsberg was now offering PCR tests. But even then, the offer is not sufficient to cover 3G-plus in the district.

In other counties, the offer for PCR tests and the cooperation with the authorities seem "to work better and easier". The way it is handled here, the 3G plus variant ultimately amounts to 2G - vaccinated or recovered. One rejects that in the Filmpalast. "We were never interested in defaming unvaccinated visitors." Of course, they still want to give visitors and employees security. Why they procured PCR test kits to offer cinema-goers a cheaper option by means of pool tests for 20 euros per person. They wanted to take over the costs for the evaluation of the tests by an external laboratory. He does not know who is responsible for the costs of any individual tests that may be necessary, says Kremer. The district administration is also unclear about this.In any case, one could not count on the support of the Contact Tracing Team (CTT). It is “completely inappropriate to use one's capacities in the current infection situation to identify and process PCR pool tests for cinema and club visitors,” Kremer quotes the office. Initially, the Filmpalast only considered the pool tests for the staff in order to be able to guarantee 3G-plus at all. The laboratory had already recommended that the "responsibility of the reporting obligation" be clarified with the health department in the event of a positive test result. They tried that, so Kremer, it was "rejected straight away". "The reporting channel could therefore simply not be guaranteed."to use its capacities in the current infection situation to identify and process PCR pool tests for cinema and club visitors, Kremer quotes the office. Initially, the Filmpalast only considered the pool tests for the staff in order to be able to guarantee 3G-plus at all. The laboratory had already recommended that the "responsibility of the reporting obligation" be clarified with the health department in the event of a positive test result. They tried that, so Kremer, it was "rejected straight away". "The reporting channel could therefore simply not be guaranteed."to use its capacities in the current infection situation to identify and process PCR pool tests for cinema and club visitors, Kremer quotes the office. Initially, the Filmpalast only considered the pool tests for the staff in order to be able to guarantee 3G-plus at all. The laboratory had already recommended that the "responsibility of the reporting obligation" be clarified with the health department in the event of a positive test result. They tried that, so Kremer, it was "rejected straight away". "The reporting channel could therefore simply not be guaranteed."clarify the "responsibility of the reporting obligation" in the event of a positive test result with the health department. They tried that, so Kremer, it was "rejected straight away". "The reporting channel could therefore simply not be guaranteed."clarify the "responsibility of the reporting obligation" in the event of a positive test result with the health department. They tried that, so Kremer, it was "rejected straight away". "The reporting channel could therefore simply not be guaranteed."

Leisure activities are "deliberately and consciously" excluded, writes Kremer.

They want to offer the "greatest possible protection" with 3G-plus, but do not see any possibility of this.

That is why the 'simple' 3G rule now applies again, in which a quick test is sufficient for going to the cinema.

When asked by the KREISBOTEN, the Landsberg health department replied that the district had not restricted the testing options for self-payer PCR tests. There were Bavaria-wide requirements from Munich, which is why the district's test center is no longer allowed to carry out self-payer PCR tests.

However, there are “numerous other service providers according to the test regulation” who are allowed to do the self-payer tests, and thus “there are still enough alternatives for an elective PCR test” at pharmacies or general practitioners.

The cinema operator wanted to use the advantages of the 2G or 3G-plus rule - full occupancy and no masks - without fulfilling the requirements of the Infection Protection Ordinance: PCR pool tests are not provided for in relation to 3G-plus because they " decisive weaknesses in the area of ​​infection protection ”. Because compared to school pool tests, other people are always grouped together per pool. It is questionable whether they are all covered and who is covering them. Also, who then reports the positive pools is not determined. And in general, the CTT is not responsible for tests at private companies. If such large collaborations as in Augsburg were to open up, one would be prepared to examine the procedure again.

Stefan Egger, owner of the PM Untermeitungen and co-owner of the Iglinger Sommerkeller, sees no need for pool tests in the district so far: "The number of guests with a test is so low (about five percent) that I don't see any urgency at the moment."

The assistant to the management, Stefan Hiller from the Lech pharmacy, which offers the PCR tests for self-payers, confirms, however, that “the demand is very high”.

On Monday last week they had already done ten.

"And I assume that it will pick up again every weekend."