Tönnies with over 500.000 PCR tests
Chancellor Angela Merkel recently called on the German economy to do more to contain the corona pandemic and to offer all employees at least once a week rapid tests. The central associations of the German economy have now submitted their status report. In this context, the food producer Tönnies also reports on its test regime.
"Last year we saw what Corona can do in a very short time," says Clemens Tönnies, managing partner of the group of companies. “Since then, we have performed over 500.000 PCR tests. That is around 12.000 weekly tests alone at our location in Rheda. This strict test regime with weekly testing of all production employees is an essential component of our corona prevention. After all, our employees are part of society and are also infected with COVID-19. But through regular intensive testing, we prevent the chains of infection from spreading. "
Clemens Tönnies calls for a joint effort by German business
The example of Tönnies shows that the German economy can make a significant contribution to pandemic prevention. In addition to clear rules, this also requires high investments by companies. As managing partner, Clemens Tönnies invites you to learn from the measures that have now been carried out successfully for nine months: "We have now invested a double-digit million amount at our German locations in the test regime and the associated hygiene measures," said Tönnies. “We are happy to pass on this experience and the knowledge that has developed from it to other companies and institutions. After all, we have a common goal: we all want to defeat this pandemic. As a commercial enterprise, we have to make a significant contribution to this. "
Tönnies, however, criticizes the lack of specifications for the type of test in German production facilities: "In the past year, we made experiences with rapid tests in parallel to our PCR tests," reports Dr. André Vielstädte, Managing Director of Tönnies Central Services. “The error rate and inaccuracies in the rapid tests have led us to essentially rely on the more expensive PCR tests. If only eight out of ten positive PCR tests were found in the rapid test, then these two positive employees may be the next super spreaders. This is exactly what we want to avoid, since the PCR test detects the infection earlier than the rapid test. ”This experience from the Tönnies companies can be used for the desired nationwide implementation in the German economy.
Tönnies is currently further developing its multi-barrier system for corona prevention, after all, the risk of new infections due to the Easter holidays is particularly high. "The PCR tests are a very important hurdle to keep the virus out of operation," says Dr. Multi-cities. “But a barrier is not enough. Especially with the Easter days, the beginning of spring and the desire for more normalcy, there is a great risk that employees will be infected in their free time. ”In addition to the regular PCR tests, a mask requirement on the entire company premises, distance rules or plexiglass Barriers to the company's own corona protective measures. Tönnies is constantly developing its hygiene concept based on the latest findings in order to do its part to prevent corona.
Tönnies app - digital retrieval of test results
One of the keys to the success of the multi-barrier system is acceptance by employees. Therefore, Tönnies relies on an app specially developed for the employees, via which the personal test results can also be called up. Employees receive their test results after twelve to 24 hours using an individual test number from the test center and their personal date of birth.
The scientist Prof. Dr. Martin Exner, from the University of Bonn, already honored last year after submitting the hygiene concept: "We now have a well-balanced hygiene concept that can become a blueprint for other companies throughout Germany." Melanie Brinkmann confirmed this statement these days. "Basically, Tönnies is a showcase for successful pandemic control," she said in an interview with the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger.
