Corona current
Only shopping with a quick test?
© Mlnp / Shutterstock
SPD politician and health expert Karl Lauterbach is discussing a new corona strategy: shopping with a quick test. That could make retail safer.
The corona crisis continues: The Robert Koch Institute reported more than 4,700 new infections within 24 hours at the start of the week, the seven-day incidence is again at 65.8. The numbers are rising again – despite the lockdown. Politician and health expert Karl Lauterbach (SPD) has been warning of a third wave for weeks. At "Maybrit Illner" he talked about strategies how to cope with them.
On the talk show, Lauterbach was particularly concerned. Because although the corona numbers are rising again, there is currently talk of easing. He himself would not end the lockdown – but could understand that this is politically not possible, he admitted on the talk show. Now you have to try to make the best of the situation.
Specifically, Karl Lauterbach spoke about strategies for opening up shops. Rapid tests could be a way to make shopping safer. For example, stores could only allow customers entry with a daily negative test result.
Conversation with corona tests in retail
So will we soon only be able to go shopping if we have done a quick test beforehand? There is currently some confusion here. However, the conversation was not about supermarkets, but about retail, which is currently still closed. An example would be clothing stores where only customers who tested negative are allowed to shop. Such a concept would also be conceivable for restaurants. According to Lauterbach, the tests should not be done by the shops and inns themselves, but should still be carried out in official test centers so that they can be passed on to the health authorities. So far, however, this has only been a consideration.
A wide variety of ideas are currently emerging on how to put a safe end to the lockdown – taking into account increasing corona numbers and a spreading mutation. In addition to the quick test, the concept of "Click & Meet" is also under discussion, where you can only shop with appointments. Either way, Karl Lauterbach is certain: "There will be a third wave".
Sources used: ZDF, maybrit illner, Twitter Karl Lauterbach, RKI, Tagesschau