ZCZC
BFF-35
HEALTH-VIRUS-GERMANY
German virus testing capacity now 900,000 weekly
BERLIN, April 29, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – German labs are now able to carry out
almost 900,000 tests a week for the novel coronavirus, officials said on
Wednesday, as they plan to widen testing among health workers.
“Today, we have a theoretically possible capacity of almost 900,000 tests
(per week) in Germany already, as long as the materials for these tests are
available,” Health Minister Jens Spahn told reporters in Berlin.
Roughly 470,000 tests were carried out last week, suggesting there is
spare capacity that could help prevent outbreaks among medical staff at
hospitals and care homes.
“I think it’s very, very important to see that with what we’ve achieved
together in recent weeks, including through the strong lockdown, the biggest
risk for an outbreak is in healthcare,” Spahn said.
Tests should be carried out “as comprehensively and preventively as
possible” among staff, including in care homes, he said.
Federal law and testing guidelines from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI)
for disease control were being adjusted to reflect these aims, Spahn added.
The RKI estimates that the infection or reproduction rate of the
coronavirus in Germany is presently around 0.9, meaning 10 infected people
infect nine others.
Such low figures have encouraged federal and regional officials to loosen
some elements of the lockdown, including opening smaller shops from last week
and sending some pupils back to school from next week.
But new rules including a nationwide requirement to wear a facemask in
shops and on public transport have entered into force, in an attempt to
prevent a second wave.
BSS/AFP/MRU/1818hrs