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Hamburg (dpa / lno) - A four-week model test for corona rapid tests in small children began in the Hamburg day-care centers on Monday.
19 daycare centers spread across the city are taking part, as the spokesman for the social welfare authority, Martin Helfrich, told the German press agency.
In addition to increasing infection protection, the experiment also expects to find out how small children can be tested at all, what happens to the willingness of parents and whether tests can detect infections that would otherwise not have been noticed.
In the model day care centers, parents are called upon to test their children twice a week on Mondays and Wednesdays before visiting the facilities or - if the children can do self-tests - to supervise them, as Helfrich said.
Participation is voluntary.
Parents received ten free test kits for each child.
"Eight to test, two in reserve."
In total, the authority made almost 37,400 tests available for the pilot project.
In the attempt it depends on the parents, said Helfrich.
A test by the educators, "which would possibly take place against the will of the children, is out of the question for pedagogical reasons alone".
If the rapid test is positive, a PCR test must follow.
The extent to which the result is then confirmed is a further gain in knowledge.
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When selecting the 19 daycare centers - in addition to the urban Elbe children, also those from independent and denominational providers - an attempt was made to depict the diversity of the city, he said.
These include those with a special focus on language training or inclusion.
The first interim results can be expected in mid-May at the earliest.
With an overall evaluation in June.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210412-99-168904 / 2