Bottlenecks in Bavaria: masks and corona tests even in clinics scarce - manufacturer accuses Söder government

Created: 12/23/2021, 3:26 PM

From: Thomas Eldersch

A protective clothing manufacturer from Swabia warns of gaps in supply with masks and corona tests.

© Bernd Thissen / dpa / symbol image

Almost like at the beginning of the pandemic.

In many places, stocks of FFP2 masks and corona tests are running out.

A Bavarian manufacturer also criticizes the government.

Buchloe - Most households in Bavaria should now have a good supply of FFP2 masks * at home.

Mouth and nose protection has also become indispensable in many facilities and hospitals.

This is of course due to the mask requirement in Bavaria.

But now a protective clothing manufacturer from the Allgäu is warning of supply gaps and is also blaming the government for them.

(By the way: Our Bavaria newsletter informs you about all the important stories from the Free State. Register here.)

Corona tests and masks are in short supply?

Costs and delivery times explode

Anyone who is currently trying to get a self-test in retail will often find themselves in front of empty shelves. And even with the essential FFP2 masks there could be a bottleneck. At least that's how Axel Theiler, managing director of the protective clothing manufacturer Franz Mensch in Buchloe (Ostallgäu district *) sees it. As the

reports, the first hospitals have already reported gaps in supply. And important deliveries to care facilities and doctors have so far failed to materialize. “The supply chains from Asia are overloaded. We order what we can. Because the situation is critical, we have just fetched a million FFP2 masks by air freight, ”explains Theiler.

In addition, the costs would increase.

Freight costs in particular have increased tenfold in some cases.

Deliveries would take twice as long as usual.

The reason is a lack of transport capacity - there is a lack of shipping containers and packaging material.

“It just takes longer overall until the goods are here on site.

You have to plan for that.

Unfortunately, normality is not in sight, ”warns Theiler to the

.

Video: Compulsory testing in daycare centers further exacerbate the bottlenecks

Short-term government decisions make the situation even worse

The government’s short-term decisions are particularly annoying for the protective clothing manufacturer.

The economy needs more lead time.

In the summer, for example, there were enough corona tests * at low prices.

Then the rules were tightened and demand exploded, says Theiler.

Something similar happened when the mask requirement was changed from medical masks to the FFP2 models.

This inevitably leads to bottlenecks and overpriced prices.