Dal FT, in tema di Germania
Germany conducting more than 50,000 coronavirus tests a day
Other European nations struggle to match Berlin's focus on finding out who has Covid-19
Germany has led the way in Europe with large-scale testing of its population © Matthias Schrader/AP
German laboratories are conducting more than 50,000 coronavirus tests a day, according to data released on Wednesday that laid bare differences in strategy and capacity across Europe.
The Robert Koch Institute, which is co-ordinating Germany's public health response to the pandemic, said the total number of tests conducted since the start of the crisis had reached at least 918,460. That number was likely to be revised upwards as some laboratories processing test results had yet to pass on data from earlier weeks, it added.
Germany has led the way in Europe with large-scale testing of its population for the virus, which is one of the reasons why the country's Covid-19 mortality rate is lower than its neighbours. So-called antigen tests are carried out on people showing even mild symptoms as long as they are referred by a doctor.
Britain, France and Spain, by contrast, have limited their testing to the very sick or have been constrained by a shortage of testing kits, the chemicals that go into them, and laboratory capacity, among other things. There has been an outcry in all three countries about the lack of testing for doctors, nurses and social care workers who risk spreading infection to patients. The three countries are all rushing to ramp up testing despite the supply bottlenecks.
Over the past week, Germany conducted 354,521 coronavirus tests, a small increase on the 348,619 carried out in the prior seven days. Some health officials have estimated the weekly testing rate to be even higher, suggesting Germany was conducting as many as 500,000.
According to the Robert Koch Institute, last week's test data were based on information from 143 laboratories, while the previous seven days involved information from 176. It was not immediately clear whether this mismatch had affected the overall count.
One reason for the comparatively large number of tests — but also the time lag in publishing data on testing — is the country's decentralised testing regime and laboratory infrastructure.
Tests are carried out not just in hospitals and doctors' practices but in special drive-in test stations.
France, by contrast, is among Europe's testing laggards despite having one of the most effective and well-resourced health systems in the world.
According to the latest weekly data from Santé Publique France, the public health body, and published on March 26, the country had carried out 101,000 tests in hospital laboratories and a further 6,500 in high-street diagnostic centres and private laboratories — fewer than even the UK. The British government on Wednesday said a total of 152,979 people have been tested in the UK.
The French government had limited testing to patients admitted to hospital with acute symptoms, arguing that in stage three of an epidemic, when the infection is widespread, no health system would have sufficient capacity to accurately track infections.
But over the weekend, health minister Olivier Véran announced a change of strategy and a ramping up of hospital laboratory tests to 30,000 a day by April 6 and 100,000 by June.
In addition, he said France had purchased 5m rapid test kits that would double overall daily output. Mr Véran said Paris was changing tack with a view to the eventual lifting of lockdown measures, when much more testing will be needed to prevent a second spike in infections.
France had initially confined testing to high-specification hospital laboratories. But rolling them out to privately operated high-street diagnostic centres should allow a rapid scaling up. The arrival on the market of new tests for high-throughput diagnostic machines will also help. Roche's Cobas machine can churn out 1,000 test results a day. Another system developed by Lyons-based BioMérieux, which won regulatory approval last month, can produce results in 45 minutes.
Other European countries are struggling to increase testing.
The Spanish government withdrew thousands of China-made "quick" testing kits last week after they appeared to be defective. Health minister Salvador Illa on Wednesday said Spain was carrying out 15,000 to 20,000 tests a day. Madrid had acquired several types of tests, which it was in the process of reassessing before use, added Mr Illa.
Italy, the first European country to be hit by the disease, has conducted 541,000 tests. Its national guidelines propose testing Italians showing symptoms, or people in close contact with those who have tested positive. But health is a responsibility of Italian regions — as in Spain or Germany — and every area acts differently.
In Lombardy, which accounts for well over half of all deaths from Covid-19 in Italy, many medical staff and other people showing symptoms cannot access a test. Neighbouring Veneto is testing far more intensely.
