ANALYSIS
The figures question. Every day in France, around 12,000 tests are performed to screen for the coronavirus. In Germany, it's six to seven times more, with a total of 500,000 tests per week. This difference is explained by several factors, notably the different organization of the health system and better equipment across the Rhine.
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Massive tests at the doctor
Berlin started to test its population very early, at the end of January. It was in the capital that the very first test was developed, with a very clear ambition: to test on a large scale all those who think they have symptoms of the coronavirus and all the people with whom there has been contact.
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In addition, in Germany, it is the doctors in town who do the small biological analyzes such as blood tests, urinalysis. People who want to be tested for coronavirus therefore do not need to go to a laboratory or hospital. Just go to the doctor, which is easier for everyone, especially the elderly.
Better equipment
But Germany is also ahead of the analysis of the samples. While there are only 900 "platforms" on the whole planet, these machines intended for processing samples, our neighbors have a hundred. For comparison, France only has ... twelve.
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Tracking therefore goes very quickly, and Germany even plans to accelerate the pace. The medical branch of the Bosch group has developed a new test which gives results in 1.5 hours to 2 hours. It will be available next week and will further streamline the processes. According to specialists, Berlin could then be able to carry out 200,000 tests per day. In France, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe announced Sunday 50,000 classic tests per day by the end of April alone, and 100,000 rapid tests per day in June.