BERLIN, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Germany's federal state Bavaria would continue to increase COVID-19 test capacities and set up around 100 test centers in every district and city by the end of August, Bavaria's minister-president Markus Soeder announced on Monday.
People should be able to get tested "quickly and unbureaucratically" and no longer had to go to the doctor, Soeder said at a press conference after a cabinet meeting on Monday.
Currently, Bavaria had a capacity of 55,000 COVID-19 tests per day, which would be increased to well over 200,000 tests per day by the end of August, according to Soeder.
At the end of July, Bavaria announced to set up voluntary COVID-19 test facilities at several motorway border crossings as well as at main railway stations in Munich and Nuremberg. Soeder stressed that he was "very worried" about travelers returning from holidays when announcing the measures.
Since last Saturday, travelers from international risk areas had to undergo a mandatory COVID-19 test on their return to Germany, according to the German government. At the end of the school holidays, the risks would increase that the coronavirus could be brought to Germany from abroad.
Soeder also said on Monday that people returning from holidays should have themselves tested for COVID-19 twice. The first test should immediately be carried out at the border or airport, and a second one should be done five to six days later.
The coronavirus would become "more dangerous every day," stressed Soeder. Long-term consequences of COVID-19 such as a missing sense of smell would only become apparent over time. Enditem
