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The number of testing options for the corona virus is gradually growing. The federal Minister of Health, Spahn, now offers the possibility of a new variant. In the ARD talks about the need for additional staff in the health authorities.
In the corona pandemic, home tests could also be used in Germany in the future. You will see more and more additions to the testing options in the coming weeks and months, Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn said after a conference with state health ministers. “I can’t tell you exactly when, but it’s predictable because companies are working on it, you can also do the home test.” Spahn did not mention a moment in time. It will be seen if that will be in four, eight, twelve or 16 weeks, “but I am very sure that we will see.”
According to Spahn, such a home test would first have to be approved by authorities because Covid-19 is a notifiable disease. Looking ahead to the new testing strategy announced for mid-October, Spahn said he was confident that so-called antigen tests could be used “in addition to large millions per month.” It is currently being clarified who will pay the costs.
“Don’t overestimate rapid tests”
Rapid testing will become an integral part of a new corona testing strategy. These are now qualitatively better and could be used, for example, to assess nursing home visitors and experience a result directly. The minister cautioned against overestimating rapid tests. Quality standards must be observed, Spahn said. Furthermore, he is skeptical about whether it makes sense to quickly test 5000 people attending a concert during one night.
At the show “Extra ARD: Die Corona-Lage“Spahn admitted that some health authorities would have to go to the limit of contact tracing of people infected by corona. So there is support from the soldiers of the Bundeswehr or the Robert Koch Institute. The federal government wants to help the best it can. so that the persecution, the identification of the contacts of the infected people are one of our greatest recipes for success so far in Germany ”, said the CDU politician.
Lack of personnel in the health authorities
However, several federal states are apparently not currently complying with the obligation to provide enough employees to follow up on contacts. Who had an investigation of NDR, WDR and “Süddeutscher Zeitung”. “We are here in the constant expansion and development of the public health service,” said Spahn. However, there is a need for additional staff in some areas.
The minister promised: “The public health package will create 5,000 new jobs in health departments over the next two years.”
Concepts for fever clinics ready
In view of the growing number of corona in Germany, Spahn continues to rely on fever clinics for patients with respiratory infections. “It’s about having an infrastructure that ensures that people do not infect each other in the waiting room,” she said in mid-September.
In the ARD Now he noted that the relevant outpatient departments were still being created. “The fact is that the compulsory health insurance physician associations and regional authorities are approaching this very differently, but effectively.” These facilities are important where the number of patients is especially increasing. “There are concepts and they are developed and developed depending on the infection situation.”
