Recently, holidaymakers who want to go to Austria and have not yet been boosted need a PCR test.
But it's not that easy to get in the district.
District - The worsening of the corona situation in some European countries has again led to new rules. For many winter sports enthusiasts and vacationers, the focus is primarily on Austria. If you want to travel there on vacation, you either need proof of a booster vaccination upon entry - or, in addition to proof of vaccination or recovery, a PCR test that is not older than 72 hours. But: It's not that easy to get in the district.
The district also opens its test centers in Gilching and Gauting at Christmas, New Year's Eve and New Year, but citizens there only receive a PCR test on the basis of the Infection Protection Ordinance, e.g. employees of care and disabled facilities or people who have a positive quick test is.
All others cannot be PCR tested there.
This is what the Free State has given the test centers run by the municipalities, explains District Office spokesman Stefan Diebl.
PCR test possibility in Gilching - 65 euros for test - result there after 20 minutes
One of the few places to go for PCR tests in the district is the test center in Gilching an der Römerstrasse. For months, pharmacist Dr. As the operator, Stefan Hartmann also offers the complex tests there in addition to the rapid tests. The demand has only increased in the past few days. "Since a PCR test has been necessary to enter Austria and other countries, we have been fully booked," Hartmann told Starnberger Merkur. The pharmacist and his employees manage around 40 to 50 of the 65 Euro PoC PCR tests per day. "Actually, far too little, because the demand is high."
The customer does not receive the result of the PoC test after a few hours, as is usual with a PCR test, but can open it by email after around 20 minutes.
"This is possible because we can evaluate the tests in our laboratory in the St. Vitus pharmacy," explains Hartmann.
Although the PoC test for nucleic acid detection is based on a method similar to the PCR test, there are still a few small differences.
“That's why I don't accept any liability.
The customer has to find out for himself whether his holiday destination accepts the PoC-PCR test, ”explains Hartmann.
"So far I haven't had any complaints."
PCR test station in Gilching: No more dates available until December 29th
Citizens are currently calling every day to make an appointment for a PCR test. “Some of them just come by.” In contrast to the rapid tests, he only carries out the PCR tests by making an appointment (www.apotheke-vitus.de). “I don't want long queues.” The fact that the next available date can only be booked for Wednesday, December 29th shows how high the demand is. Hartmann's urgent appeal to colleagues and doctors: "Everyone who can perform PCR tests should increase their range."
The married couples Rittinghausen and Magenau are already thinking about this. They operate test centers in Starnberg, Herrsching, Tutzing and Gauting, but have only offered rapid tests there until now.
"We are currently in talks with providers," says Julia Magenau.
Until now, the demand for fee-based PCR tests has not been very high.
"But I think that will change now that they are needed again for the vacation."
PCR tests are also possible in doctor's offices in the district
According to Dr. Bernhard Junge-Hülsing, medical coordinator in the pandemic, with some general practitioners. But there are not very many, for one simple reason: The practices are closed in the week after Christmas or longer into January. Anyone who clicks through the list of doctors and their test offers on the District Office's website will quickly notice that the search can be challenging. There is no getting around phoning around. ENT doctor Junge-Hülsing advises you to try it first with your family doctor - and otherwise also in his practice in Starnberg.
General practitioner Dr. Raghild Welp is expecting great demand in the coming week. "People come every day, and they have already asked for specific ones for December 30th, so that they can then go to the ski areas in Austria," she says. Your practice on Bahnhofstrasse will be open from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. next week. Welp asks those willing to test to give a short call beforehand. “We also have to adhere to the distance and hygiene rules.” In addition, the PCR tests at Welp have to be done before 11 am because the laboratory will pick you up at this time. This is the only way to get the result within 24 hours. "We should be able to do 20 tests a day," says the doctor. The test costs around 100 euros. Junge-Hülsing also comes to this sum,who reckons with medical costs of 40 to 50 euros and laboratory costs of around 60 euros. lf / ps / gma
