Prioritization of PCR tests: No proof of recovery without a test

Created: 01/25/2022, 20:17

By: Johannes Nuss

The PCR tests to detect a Covid-19 infection could become scarce and should be prioritized.

For the time being, the rules in Lower Saxony will remain as they are.

Hanover – The Prime Ministers' Conference with Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) agreed on Monday that the PCR tests will be prioritized in the future due to the high number of infections with the omicron variant of the corona virus.

In Lower Saxony, the test strategy is to be adapted in this regard, although the situation in the laboratories is not yet as tense as it is elsewhere in Germany.

Prioritization of PCR tests: strategy will be adjusted in the coming weeks

During the weekly press conference of the Corona crisis management team in Lower Saxony, its head, Heiger Scholz, was optimistic at the state press conference in Hanover that the strategy adjustment could be worked out within the next week and a half.

Until then, everything in Lower Saxony will remain as it is.

Scholz emphasized during the press conference that the laboratories in Lower Saxony were well utilized due to the PCR tests for the corona virus, but that there was still room for improvement.

How long this stays that way depends on how the number of infections with Corona in Lower Saxony will develop in the coming days and weeks.

If things get tight, Scholz continued to encourage and said that in an emergency, veterinary laboratories, such as the Lower Saxony State Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (Laves), could help out with the PCR tests.

Prioritization of PCR tests: Laboratories in Lower Saxony still have capacity

Prime Minister Stephan Weil (SPD) cannot yet say exactly what the prioritization will look like, reports the Norddeutsche Rundfunk (NDR) in its online edition.

In contrast to the head of the crisis team, Scholz, he assumes that the preparation of the prioritization of the PCR tests could take a few weeks.

On Wednesday, January 26, 2022, the Prime Minister will make a government statement on the current situation in the corona pandemic.

In an exclusive interview with kreiszeitung.de, Stephan Weil recently described the corona pandemic as the "biggest crisis in the country's history".

Due to the increasing number of infections with the corona virus and the resulting need for PCR tests, the utilization of the laboratories in Germany is also increasing.

This could soon lead to problems.

(Archive image) © Sebastian Gollnow/dpa

However, many are currently wondering what effects the prioritization of PCR tests from certain professional groups would have on the rest of the population.

Because if – as demanded by Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (SPD) that rapid antigen tests should replace a PCR test – it could also be that there is no proof of recovery for infected people after surviving a Covid 19 infection.

Problems with prioritizing PCR tests: no proof of recovery without a test

Because for these, the presence of a PCR test is absolutely necessary, and there would also be no proof of recovery under the current corona rules.

This could mean far-reaching consequences, especially for those who are not fully immunized against the corona virus or have not yet received a booster vaccination.

There could be another problem if someone infected with Corona wants to assert claims, for example with the professional association.

According to the recommendations of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), proof of a PCR test is currently required in order to assert claims at such a point.

The same applies if someone wants to be treated in one of the post-Covid outpatient clinics.

A PCR test is also required here.

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