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Dispute over corona tests for everyone: Söder and Spahn disagree

The announcement by the Bavarian state government to offer preventive corona tests for everyone has one nationwide debate triggered by the right test strategy. Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn (CDU) criticized Bavarian going it alone. “Testing, testing, testing – but targeted,” tweeted the CDU politician. That is the national test strategy developed with the Robert Koch Institute. This includes comprehensive preventive testing in health care and local outbreaks such as in Gütersloh.

“Simply testing a lot sounds good, but without a systematic approach is not useful,” said Spahn. Because it weighs “in false security”, increases the risk of false positive results and affects the existing test capacity. The SPD health politician Karl Lauterbach had previously called for a targeted test strategy. An expansion of the tests makes sense, he says to the Funke media group. “However, we have to make sure that the right people are tested and that the tests themselves are cheaper.”

Söder: A very good offer for people

Bayer’s Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) defended Bavaria’s advance in the ZDF “Morgenmagazin”. He made it clear that he sees no contradiction to the national test strategy: Targeted series tests in clinics, old people’s and nursing homes, disabled facilities would be done anyway: “Of course that is the basis.” After the school holidays, there will also be series tests for teachers and educators. “In my opinion that goes without saying.”

Söder thinks it makes sense, however, to offer every citizen the opportunity to take a test: “If you think you could have it, or if you just want to have security, we have to give you such security,” he emphasized. That would certainly not be immediately accepted by everyone. “But that’s an offer for people and I think it’s a very, very good one. Patients’ advocates are already praising it.”

Bavaria wants greater test capacity

Also on the sidelines of an appointment in Munich, Söder rejected Spahn’s criticism and emphasized the need to test a lot in the fight against Corona. Bavaria does not wait for endless discussions between individual payers, but goes in advance: “Because we believe that apart from keeping testing is the only serious chance to break the chain of infection.” Anyone who tests less “endangers the overall improved situation that we currently have”.

The Prime Minister points out that in the case of outbreaks of corona such as in the district of Gütersloh (North Rhine-Westphalia) “everything is suddenly tested”. “If you could have done it a little earlier, you could have prevented some things.” Bavaria wanted to have a larger test capacity, said Söder and added: “And the impression is that the patients especially accept it. Patients’ advocates thank them and want it all over Germany.”

SPD health expert Lauterbach does not see that this could overload the laboratories. The company already has the capacity of one million tests a week. This capacity could be increased significantly.

The German Foundation for Patient Protection had described Bavaria’s plans as “sensible”. Because there is no other instrument “to quickly and quickly identify an infection chain,” said Eugen Brysch, dpa foundation board member. “With preventive tests, we have the opportunity to identify dangerous situations.”

Huml: Voluntary tests from Wednesday

According to the Bavarian Minister of Health Melanie Huml (CSU) the test offer for the population is to start on July 1st, i.e. this Wednesday. That does not mean that everyone has to be tested, she told the “radio world” on Bavaria 2. “It is about an offer that we want to make to those citizens in Bavaria who are uncertain, who have concerns and therefore like to know want: do I have Corona? ”

This test should be free of charge for citizens. According to Huml, the state government initially planned a three-digit million amount from the Corona special fund. “We will now see how the offer is used by the citizens.” The minister hopes that as many doctors as possible will offer the test to everyone. However, if one or the other doctor does not want to participate, a list of doctors can be drawn up with whom you can be tested.

Minister opposes criticism

The Minister later reacted to Spahn’s criticism and contested it. Bavaria is very systematic, the test strategy consists of several components, she said in Nuremberg. There are targeted examinations in nursing homes and hospitals. “We are also launching an extended test offensive at slaughterhouses, as well as cutting and meat processing plants.”

Bavaria’s corona test concept was not “just testing a lot,” as Spahn had written. “However, we offer all people who want to be tested for an infection on SARS-CoV-2 the opportunity to do so,” said the Minister, adding: “Nobody can seriously criticize this.” A strong extension of the test could also detect infections in people who have no symptoms yet. Such “coincidences” could make a decisive contribution to “being able to recognize one or the other chain of infection and then being able to react”.

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