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Munich (dpa / lby) - Corona rapid tests for daycare children suitable for practical use are not in sight for the foreseeable future, according to Bavaria's Minister of Social Affairs, Carolina Trautner (CSU).
"At the moment, the testing of children of crèche and kindergarten age with the currently available rapid antigen tests for self-application is not sufficiently reliable and safe," said the CSU politician on Wednesday of the German press agency in Munich.
The reason is the often "considerable problems" when taking samples from small children.
The Robert Koch Institute recently announced this again at the beginning of April.
“A test for children has to be safe and meaningful.
The safest method to find out whether a toddler is infected with the coronavirus is currently still the PCR testing, "said Trautner.
As soon as safe alternative test options were available, these would also be used.
In principle, suitable alternative test options such as gargle, saliva or lollipop tests are currently not yet available due to the laboratories' necessary capacities.
"However, you are already in the test phase," said Trautner.
Since April there has been a study on nine Würzburg childcare facilities on behalf of the state government.
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"As a transition, we are currently relying on what is known as environmental testing for crèche and kindergarten children," said Trautner. It is not the children themselves who are regularly tested, but their environment should be tested, as part of the tests at work or as part of the free citizen tests. "Testing the children using a PCR test is only necessary if they show symptoms of an illness."
The SPD and the Greens criticized the state government's approach as devoid of concept or ideas.
"Child-friendly test options have long been in use in many places, for example in Solingen or Cologne," said SPD social politician Doris Rauscher.
In Bavaria, however, the state government cannot do this nationwide.
Johannes Becher from the Greens once again called for a viable concept with tests for children at least once a week.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210428-99-389142 / 2