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Hairdressers have been allowed to reopen since March 1st
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The researchers of the "No Covid" initiative are pressing for a comprehensive test offensive before further relaxation of the corona measures.
In the current situation, openings are only responsible if the R-value can be kept below 1 over the long term.
This can be achieved, among other things, with intelligent test strategies, according to a paper published on Tuesday.
Behind "No Covid" are experts from various disciplines, including the virologist Melanie Brinkmann, the head of the Ifo Institute, Clemens Fuest, the physicist Michael Meyer-Hermann and the business lawyer Denise Feldner.
You advocate reducing the number of new corona infections to zero.
"Without the implementation of intelligent test strategies, we consider openings at this critical point in the pandemic to be counterproductive and harmful," the scientists write.
In principle, tests must be carried out for minor symptoms such as scratching the throat and for people at high risk, the researchers explain.
In areas with high contagion rates - called "red zones" by the experts - all people would have to be tested twice a week.
They suggest a combination of different types of tests such as rapid antigen tests, PCR pool tests, and wastewater screening.
According to the concept, schoolchildren and teachers should be tested twice a week everywhere, as well as daycare children and daycare staff.
The same applies to employees who are not in the home office, as well as to people in authorities and in refugee accommodation.
"In order for testing as an instrument to develop its full effect, it must be carried out frequently, over a wide area and with a lower threshold," the paper continues.
Strategic, targeted test concepts are important;
Self-tests for home use also played a central role.
It is about »the anchoring of testing as a natural component of everyday routines and mobility patterns«.
Lower case numbers, control outbreaks
According to the information, the proposed test strategy pursues two goals: "Firstly, to reduce the number of cases and, secondly, as soon as this has been successful, to prevent the number of cases from rising again and to identify and control outbreaks as quickly as possible."
Infections would be detected early through "proactive testing" and infected people would self-isolate before they could pass the infection on.
The researchers warn in drastic terms against openings without such a test offensive.
"Opening scenarios are currently being discussed, which must be critically assessed in view of the new virus variants, increasing numbers of cases and a very low vaccination rate among the population," they write with a view to the debate ahead of the next federal-state round on Wednesday.
"The hard-won successes of the past few weeks, which were achieved through high and long-lasting restrictions on social life, can be neutralized within a very short time in this situation through openings that lead to an increase in infectious contacts," the scientists write.
"The already high death toll would probably rise again."
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