All citizens should be able to be tested for Corona free of charge. That was the promise made by Federal Health Minister Spahn. The reality in the country is different.
Free tests have been possible since March 8th. But if you want to keep the promise made by Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU), you need one thing above all else in some places: a lot of patience. Because in the cities and municipalities, the range of quick tests looks very different. There is the famous patchwork quilt.
There are often waiting times in test centers, not all pharmacies currently offer the service and the self-tests for at home from drugstores or supermarkets are almost everywhere sold out.
Consignment notice
You can see more on this topic this evening from 8:15 p.m. on “On the matter of Baden-Württemberg” on SWR television.
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Model city of Tübingen
Tübingen has officially been a model city since this week. There everyone can be tested at six locations in the city and then enjoy extensive freedom: shops, outdoor restaurants and companies are open to those who tested negative.
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Tübingen started as a Corona model city on Tuesday. That means: theaters, museums, cinemas and outdoor restaurants are open again. If you want to get in, you have to be tested beforehand.more…
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Baden-Württemberg’s Minister of Social Affairs, Manfred Lucha (Greens), considers the attempt in Tübingen to be justifiable. Lucha told the SWR: “The test in Tübingen is a necessary, calculable risk”. It goes without saying that the ordinance wrote down the incidence values from which a cut had to be made.
Friedrichshafen: Free rapid tests for everyone
The city too Friedrichshafen has been offering free rapid corona tests for everyone since Wednesday. Two test centers were set up, one in the old festival hall, the other in the city center. Registration takes place online. If you come without registering, you have to be prepared to wait, according to the city.
In Konstanz This week should have opened two test centers for weekly free rapid tests, one at the Bodenseeforum and one in the city center. But that will probably take until next week, according to a city spokesman. In Ravensburg and Sigmaringen there are tests for everyone so far only at the German Red Cross and the Johannitern.
Schwäbisch Hall district: Corona test bus
Im Schwäbisch Hall district A bus is now driving to schools, in which free corona rapid tests are offered for schoolchildren. The district continues to have the highest seven-day incidence in Baden-Württemberg with a value of just under 271 (March 17). Cities and municipalities with particularly high incidences are approached first, according to the district office. Children and adolescents who are to be tested must present a signed declaration of consent from their parents for the test. After the tests in the schools, citizens from the district can also have themselves tested free of charge in the communities approached.
Schwäbisch Hall
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From Thursday, a bus will drive to schools in the Schwäbisch Hall district, offering free corona rapid tests for schoolchildren. First the vehicle arrives in hotspot communities.more…
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Ostalbkreis expands rapid tests
Of the Ostalbkreis expands the corona rapid test options, especially in schools. According to the district office, a pilot test for voluntary self-testing is planned. Pupils should be able to test themselves in the pilot test under supervision. Corresponding test sets have already been ordered, and the experiment should start before the Easter holidays. Nine municipalities want to take part with their schools, including the three district vocational school centers. The aim is to test how a school community can integrate such tests into everyday school life and how quickly positive cases can be responded to.
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Heubach
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In Heubach (Ostalbkreis) the city administration organizes quick tests itself. Tests have been carried out in schools and in the town hall since Monday. The DRK has trained around 60 volunteers for this.more…
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Minister of Social Affairs Lucha satisfied with the quick test offer
There are now several hundred mobile and stationary test sites in Baden-Württemberg. In an interview with SWR, Minister of Social Affairs Lucha therefore speaks of a good infrastructure. The demand for rapid tests is “also not extraordinarily high.”
In Baden-Württemberg, for example, school and daycare staff, schoolchildren and family caregivers can have themselves tested twice a week free of charge. Here too, demand is “but not overwhelming,” said Minister Lucha.
DRK wants to train teachers for corona self-tests
The German Red Cross wants to train teachers so that they can help their students to carry out rapid corona tests themselves. DRK state manager Marc Groß told the “Stuttgarter Nachrichten” that they are planning a large project together with other aid organizations, doctors, pharmacies and the responsible ministries. “Handling the tests is no longer that difficult, you can manage that,” said Groß.
Criticism from unions
The education and science union sees the DRK’s action rather critically. The GEW chairman Monika Stein said it could not be the task of the school management and teachers to organize the tests. The state government must guarantee a reliable test strategy.
The Association of Education and Upbringing (VBE) has also raised concerns. The chairman Gerhard Brand told the German press agency that they understand the good intentions of the DRK. First, however, the framework conditions would have to be clarified and the Ministry of Culture decided. “We urgently recommend schools to withhold accompanying measures for self-testing without instruction from the ministry,” said Brand.
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