Staff shortages, long queues and now Christmas is just around the corner – the test stations are at their limit. The policy makes it impossible to plan any plan, criticize operators.
Christmas is just around the corner – but so are the many people in front of the test stations. Test, test, test. That is the order of the day if you want to travel over the holidays. But the demand for the corona tests is also high in everyday life. The queues are often long and the need is even higher due to the stricter Corona rules, not only for the catering trade. There are stations at the doctors and in front of supermarkets or for cyclists driving past. Tests are carried out in tents, containers or empty shops. Stations are springing up like mushrooms right now.
And yet: the test stations are at their limit. “We are currently running at full throttle and are working to capacity”, says Michael Wieland, Managing Director of Little Pinguin Medi & Secure Services in Öhringen. The provider operates nine rapid test centers in the Hohenlohe area. From vaccinated to unvaccinated, everything is included, he says. “A lot of people can be tested for their work. The rush is quite big in the evenings,” Wieland told SWR. There are also restaurant guests among those tested, as well as people who need a PCR test for the hairdresser, he says.
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Big rush expected for Christmas
“I think I could open the door 24 hours a day at the moment and it would always be in business. I really think so. Because we can’t get the door shut in the evening. People are still standing there wanting to get in. It’s really crazy,” said Wieland . The test stations are open seven days a week. We work in two shifts.
The former event manager has been running the test stations since February. So far he has not had a single day off. And even over Christmas he wants to open at least in the mornings. “I’m afraid the rush will be even bigger at Christmas. I can already see it. We have as many inquiries as we will be open at Christmas. There are a lot of inquiries about the PCR tests and how long it will take to get the results, “says Wieland. People would be planning their vacations now. “I think it will be pretty tough at Christmas.”
The demand is great – but so is the shortage of staff
There are currently 120 employees in action, says Wieland. “If I can find 50 more, I would hire them so we can open more test stations, but it just doesn’t work. Finding staff is the biggest problem.” Above all, this is needed because of the short-term decisions that politicians make. “The new Corona rules will be decided in the evening and will apply the next day. It is very difficult then, including the software and the many employees, to adapt so quickly,” said Wieland.
He also says that people have no understanding of snakes forming. “We work according to deadlines, but some people don’t get along with the online appointments. They just stand in front of the door and we take them on too. We don’t want to turn anyone away.”
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Test stations: a lucrative business?
The providers of corona test stations receive eight euros from the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KV) for each smear, plus 3.50 euros for material costs. There are costs for staff, for the purchase of the tests and the possible rental.
“Of course, everyone who runs a test site earns money with it, but there are always two sides to the story: How do I run my test site? Do I make a lot of effort or not? I can hire someone who works for a minimum wage, but I can too hire qualified, trained personnel “. Wieland personally does not believe in the test sites in supermarkets and kebab shops.
Great additional expense for pharmacies
According to the state pharmacists’ association, every fourth pharmacy in Baden-Württemberg offers tests on its premises: that is, 600 of the 2,400 pharmacies. The demand there is also very high. “With a significant decrease is not to be expected at the moment,” said a spokesman.
It can not be assumed that the pharmacies testing will be open continuously on the Christmas holidays. “The pharmacies with emergency service at Christmas tend not to have any possibility of offering tests in addition to the emergency supply of medicines,” said the association. The extent to which testing pharmacies can offer their products over the holidays is up to the respective owner to decide.
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