Germany was able to develop one of the first diagnostic tests for COVID-19 at Berlin’s Charité hospital in January 2020. Due to the early development of the test and the unique level of laboratories that have the expertise, accreditation, and equipment to conduct PCR assays and quickly deliver diagnoses, Germany was able to ramp up their production in tests. The government had further facilitated the production by mandating that all insurance companies pay for COVID-19 tests on February 28. As a result, Germany was able to provide for mass proactive testing to isolate symptomatic and asymptomatic Covid-19 patients.

Testing in Germany

Careful examination through a combination of epidemiological methods such as interviews and whole-genome sequencing had allowed the health authorities and scientists to break the first outbreak in Bavaria at the end of January. Even when the number of cases grew exponentially in Germany, tremendous efforts were still conducted to contact tracing for every single case, despite a lack of staff. Voluntary science projects were also launched to complement the government’s efforts.

Contact Tracing in Germany

Some of the world’s first COVID-19 antibody studies were conducted by scientists at the University of Bonn in Gangelt, Germany. As part of its long-term strategy, RKI has announced a three-pronged approach to gathering data about community spread in the hope that the data will help shape more sensitive policies in the future.

Antibody Testing in Germany

- Testing
- Contact Tracing
- Antibody Testing

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- Preventative
- Detect
- Contain
- Treat

Categories of Germany's Actions in Containing Covid-19

Although the German government wasn't able to prevent Covid-19 from entering the country, they were able to prevent the virus from severely affecting the country through two factors:
- National Pandemic Plan
- Federal cooperation with the Robert Koch Institute


Preventative Measure from Germany during the Covid-19 Pandemic


Germany's effort to detect Covid-19

The outbreak in Bavaria increased awareness among health professionals and the public, and as such prepared them for the bigger outbreak that followed later. On March 22, Germany enforced strict physical distancing guidelines, banning groups of more than two people in public and shutting down some businesses. Curfew, however, was never enforced. According to RKI national guidelines, recovered COVID-19 cases who return into care homes from hospitals must have tested negative or have undergone quarantine at an isolation area for 14 days. Specific guidance is provided to nursing homes on hygiene measures and protocols to handle suspected and confirmed cases as well as outbreaks. Older people were also tested more often than younger age groups.

Germany's Effort to Contain Coivd-19

In order for the health cares system to efficiently deal with the surging cases and provide the best treatment, two factors needed to be considered:
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)

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