[ad_1]
The Baden-Württemberg state government has distributed masks to teachers, some of which could be junk items. At the end of November, the Ministry of Culture announced that it would supply some 2,700 secondary schools and professionals with FFP2 masks and surgical masks so that teachers can protect themselves from coronavirus infection.
Before Christmas, more than eight million masks from the inventory of the Ministry of Social Affairs were distributed to teachers, but several schools were quick to express doubts about the quality of the products.
Fake logo
A sports teacher from a school who had received masks spoke to SPIEGEL about this. He received 40 masks on December 11, he says. However, it did not receive FFP2 masks as announced, but masks with the KN95 protection class designation. Based on the packaging, they were made in China, a company called Ryzur from Beijing is listed as a manufacturer.
The teacher noticed, among other things, that on some packages there was a green logo that said “DEKRA tested.” Stuttgart product testing company Dekra has been testing and certifying personal protective equipment for almost 30 years. DER SPIEGEL presented Dekra with several photos of the masks delivered. The auditing company then announced that the logo used on the packaging did not exist and was false.
“We have guaranteed that these masks have not been tested,” says Dekra Managing Director Jörg-Timm Kilisch. “It is a hoax, these masks cannot be marketed. They should not be distributed under any circumstances. “
»Consult legal steps«
The Dekra tested a total of five types of Ryzur masks in April 2020, Kilisch says. One guy received a positive score, four guys failed the test and therefore received a negative result. However, based on the packaging, the masks the sports teacher received were not produced until June 2020, so Kilisch dismisses Dekra testing of these products. The auditing firm, says the managing director, now wants to know who imported the masks. One “will examine the legal steps,” says Kilisch. Distributed masks should be “retrieved as quickly as possible”.
The Stuttgart Ministry of Social Affairs acquired the masks, the Ministry of Culture is responsible for distributing them. SPIEGEL has requested comments from both ministries. In a joint response, the state government rejects the accusation of having issued masks of dubious source and with questionable protective effects. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Social Affairs announced that the masks were purchased in spring 2020. A Dekra certificate is available for Ryzur-type masks, and a technical verification of random samples has confirmed the filtration values shown on these certificates.
Regarding the allegedly forged Dekra logo, he says: “The Ministry of Social Affairs is not yet aware that such an imprint is attached to a mask obtained by the state.” This must be “probably federal delivery masks,” he said. Spokesperson and refers to the Federal Ministry of Health.
“Broken Christmas present”
But criticism of the state government is growing. It is now also being proposed by the Union for Education and Science (GEW). This stems from an email that the regional association GEW Baden-Württemberg sent to school principals on December 17 and which is available to SPIEGEL. One is disappointed, writes GEW President Monika Stein, that the country distributed KN95 masks instead of FFP2 masks. Also, teachers feel insecure and wonder if these masks reliably protect against infections.
The state government assured the GEW that the masks handed over had a good protective effect, according to the letter. But many professors apparently remain skeptical. More recently, “several hundred schools” informed the GEW about the masks, CEO Matthias Schneider tells SPIEGEL. This criticism passed to the Ministry of Culture.
Schneider says: “The teachers were promised safe masks, then they open the package and find out: these masks are of limited use and may even have flaws. It’s a broken Christmas present. The state government always advocates face-to-face teaching. At the same time, our teachers feel that their employer does not care enough about their safety. That doesn’t go hand in hand. “
The Ministry of Culture confirms “some inquiries” from the teachers about the delivery of the mask. The Ministry of Social Affairs has also received “individual inquiries”, they say. However, the state government was “not aware” of any request to collect the masks that had been distributed.
Apparently, a return campaign is currently not planned. About 24 million surgical masks will soon be sent to schools.
