Educators and Instructors Should Conduct Self-Corona Tests
Starting this Friday, teachers and educators in Germany will be permitted to conduct self-tests for COVID-19 after receiving the necessary training, according to an email communication shared by Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU). This new regulation also grants school operators the ability to obtain and use rapid tests.
Until now, antigen rapid tests could only be performed by medically trained personnel. However, this regulation marks a change in that teachers will be allowed to use these tests after prior training. On-site testing with trained personnel is also allowed for schools if necessary.
The communication provides data on the number of COVID-19 outbreaks in schools since the beginning of the pandemic: 636 outbreaks have been reported to the Robert Koch Institute. In the last four weeks, there have been around 64 outbreaks per week in schools.
The age groups affected by these outbreaks have been broken down. Eighteen percent of these outbreaks affected 6-10-year-olds, 26 percent affected 11-14-year-olds, 31 percent affected 15-20-year-olds, and 25 percent affected persons over 21 years.
The use of antigen rapid tests could help protect teachers, educators, and children from the coronavirus. Kindergartens and schools, or their operators, can independently obtain and use these tests starting this Friday.
However, the communication does not contain information about which organization Bundesminister Jens Spahn commissioned for the training of teachers in self-testing for coronavirus.
This new regulation aims to provide a safer environment for education and learning during these challenging times. The potential of antigen rapid tests in protecting teachers, educators, and children from the coronavirus has been highlighted in the communication.
