Millions of Covid tests for schools: classroom teaching continues

Berlin's Governing Mayor Franziska Giffey wants to retain face-to-face teaching in school classrooms.

Low rate of positive rapid tests in schools

It is crucially important to secure childcare and keep an eye on the best interests of the children, Giffey said on Tuesday (Jan. 18, 2022) after the Senate meeting. She pointed to the results of thrice-weekly rapid tests required in schools: "We have a rate of positive results in these rapid tests of around 0.5 percent for both students and teachers," the Governing Mayor said. "This means that, on the flipside, we have a percentage of over 99 percent negative test results. Given these results, we think it's reasonable for classroom teaching to continue."

Daily tests after the winter break

Giffey announced that in the first week after the winter break in February, there would once again be five weekly tests, same as after the Christmas holidays. Berlin's schools are sufficiently supplied with rapid tests, she said: "We are equipped with the necessary tests until Easter. One million tests for students were handed out in the last week alone." If 300,000 students are tested three times a week, she said, a stock of one million tests must be available. "That's been planned for."