Merkel announces mobile testing for coronavirus contact tracing

Berlin (dpa) –  Germany’s federal government will establish, train and finance 105 mobile testing teams for on-the-spot coronavirus contact tracing, Chancellor Angela Merkel announced on Monday following a cabinet meeting.

Merkel stressed that “a precise tracking of all chains of infection” is necessary.

“This will only succeed if we strengthen the public health service,” she said.

The Federal Ministry of Health announced it will also finance a “technical update” of the health offices, bringing hardware and software up to the latest standards.

A short-term support program with up to 150,000 euros (162,850 dollars) per local health office is planned, Health Minister Jens Spahn said on Monday.

Earlier in the day Merkel had called for utmost caution to be maintained as Germany started easing its coronavirus restrictions after curbing the rate of infections.

“We cannot for a second develop a false sense of security,” she said in Berlin after a meeting of the government’s coronavirus crisis cabinet. “It would be a shame if we walk straight into a regression with our eyes open.”

A lot has been achieved with tough measures, but she warned: “We are just at the beginning and by no means out of the woods.”

Merkel and the leaders of Germany’s 16 federal states had last week agreed to allow smaller businesses and some public places to reopen after nearly four weeks, while keeping in place nationwide measures restricting people’s movements until May 3.

Shops with a floor area of less than 800 square metres could reopen from Monday, as well as car dealerships, bicycle retailers, bookshops of all sizes and zoos.

Schools in some states opened their doors to older pupils sitting and preparing for exams.

The states are in charge of implementing the changes and have opted to open up to varying degrees and at different times.

Merkel called on their premiers not to loosen restrictions too early or too extensively.

“The situation we have now is deceptive,” she said, noting that the consequences of Monday’s partial reopening can only be assessed after 14 days, the virus’ incubation period.

The leader of the south-western state of Saarland, Tobias Hans, spoke of states trying to outdo each other with the easing of restrictions, warning that it will lead to “great uncertainty.”

Merkel had earlier in the day sharply criticized what she called “discussion orgies” in some states on opening things back up, according to sources who participated in a conference call with her and other top officials from her Christian Democratic Union.

Merkel expressed concern that the progress made in lowering the infection rate could be reversed if too few people respect social distancing rules.

“What now counts is transferring the discipline that we showed while staying home also to other areas,” Helge Braun, her chief of staff and a doctor, told dpa, warning that restrictions will be reinstituted if infection numbers go back up.

“I have faith in the people in Germany, who hopefully will use every regained freedom with caution,” he added.

Some regions are turning to face-mask directives as an extra precaution.

Bavaria, one of the states hit hardest by the coronavirus, announced on Monday that it will require people to cover their noses and mouths on public transport and in all shops starting next week.

By Monday afternoon, more than 142,600 coronavirus infections and at least 4,462 deaths had been reported in Germany, according to a dpa tally based on state data.

A debate has also been brewing over what will happen in the European summer, when many Germans traditionally go on long holidays and travel to other countries.

Austria’s economy minister, Margarete Schramboeck, said on Monday that she could envision her country opening its borders for German holidaymakers under certain circumstances. Germany is the biggest source of tourists for Austria.

But the minister’s suggestion met a cautious response in Berlin.

“We have no reason at the moment to change the situation at the Austrian border,” a spokesman for the German Interior Ministry said.