Corona tests: Rush to the test centers in the Munich district – Munich district
Since the middle of last week, the corona test stations in the district have been experiencing a real rush. Last weekend, for example, in front of the district’s own vaccination and test center in Haar, as well as at the Malteser test stations at Ikea in Brunnthal and at the Ottobrunn Phönixbad, long queues of people willing to test formed. “We noticed that. Since Wednesday a lot more people want to be tested,” says Gerhard Bieber from Johanniter Unfallhilfe München-Land. The Johanniter are currently also busy restarting the vaccination center at Oberhachinger Keltenring, which is scheduled to go back into operation on Wednesday, December 1st. “But at the moment it is the rapidly increasing willingness to test that gives us significantly more work,” says Bieber.
The surge in rapid antigen tests can be proven with numbers. Last Friday, around 500 tests were carried out in the Johanniter test center at Phönixbad Ottobrunn – a week earlier there were only 70. A similar picture can be seen in the station in Brunnthal: Friday a week ago there were 40, seven days later almost 380 It is mainly the stricter access regulations 2 G and 2 G plus, says Bieber. So access only for vaccinated and convalescent people and, in the case of 2 G plus, also with a negative test. there would be people who do not want or cannot be vaccinated but need a test, says Bieber.
In Ottobrunn, the Johanniter have started to lead people through two streets, reports Bieber: one for registration, a second for people who have not booked an appointment. “At the moment we can’t organize it any other way, there are just too many coming,” says Johanniter. There may currently be considerations to only carry out tests after an appointment has been made, because the employees are also dying from the attack.
“The staff has been working longer than they should now.”
“The rush is very large. It feels more and more every day,” says Therese Rosche, shift manager at the test center in Haar. Due to the great demand for tests, the company has switched to a mandatory appointment again. Those who register will sooner or later have their turn. Only those who do not adhere to minimum distances will be sent away. Rosche is particularly concerned about the personnel situation: “The staff has been working longer than they should.”
Last day, 560 tests were carried out at a smaller test station. At the branch offices, people are currently supported by forces from the Red Cross, the Johanniter and the Technical Relief Organization. In addition, an immediate increase in staff is being planned, i.e. the shift supervisor. She attributes the increased rush to two factors in particular: dying fear of new virus variants, dying worries many people, as well as the increasing pressure to get tested regularly in order to be able to participate in social life.
The Ismaning pharmacist Peter Aurnhammer has also noticed an increased demand for tests since the Free State’s latest Corona regulations: “The rush has increased extremely.” Around 100 tests were carried out every day at his two pharmacies. “We are all working to the limit of our capacity,” says Aurnhammer. An appointment is necessary for a test in his pharmacy. Although he tries to meet all inquiries, bookings at certain times are simply not possible. He has even had to turn some customers away.
According to Johanniter spokesman Bieber, it is currently very difficult to predict how the situation in the test centers will develop. The emergency service has upgraded its staff again in the past few days. The tightened measures will initially apply until December 15. Nobody knows what comes next.