For weeks it has been difficult or impossible to get respiratory masks in pharmacies and elsewhere: Even before the coronavirus reached Germany, people stocked up in Germany . In the meantime, however, the shortage is also spreading where protection is most urgently needed, as research by the daily mirror shows: More and more medical practices and clinics report missing breathing masks .

So far, the stores in most practices were still sufficient, it is said from the circles of resident doctors. However, it is firmly assumed that the tight inventory will not prepare you for a corona outbreak. "We would not be able to cope with an epidemic with what we have now," says an official representative who does not want to be quoted by name. Doctors report that they are now looking for masks in hardware stores, but are no longer finding anything there either.

Clinics complain about supply bottlenecks for protective equipment

The German Hospital Society (DKG) says that 400 clinics have just given written information on the problem, that is, about every fifth hospital in the republic. In one out of ten clinics there are deficiencies in personal protective equipment (PPE) - here the supply contracts could no longer be fully fulfilled. In addition to masks, protective suits are also considered to be PSAs: These are required in corona cases, since the exact pathway of transmission of the disease is not yet clear and therefore full-body protection is necessary.Eight percent of the houses told DKG that they had been referred to other manufacturers when ordering PSA. "Medical care is particularly problematic when surgical mouth and nose protection is scarce," explains a DKG spokesman. Among other things, it is about surgical interventions. "When there will be an impact on elective services cannot yet be said." Elective services are interventions that do not have to be carried out immediately.

Doctors actually create a supply for the flu season

In the medical practices of the Republic there is always a supply of respiratory masks, according to the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV). It is used to regularly build the seasonal flu season. Whether the stock is sufficient "will show the development of the coming days," says the KBV spokesman. "We currently have no information about a shortage that already exists. Together with the statutory health insurance associations, we will monitor the situation. "

In the event of an epidemic, however, supplies are likely to be used up quickly and supplies are hardly available. Because many of the manufacturers are located in China, where, firstly, factories are often no longer producing due to the corona epidemic, and secondly, domestic demand has increased significantly - just as it is increasing worldwide, just like in Germany.

Last Monday, the last respiratory protection masks were obtained from the hardware store, a Berlin doctor says, and since then he has been unable to find supplies. He also emphasizes that there are different qualities of breathing masks: some are often nothing "better than a drip catcher", while other masks offer 95 to 98 percent virus protection.

“Great perplexity” among dentists

Another reports from discussions of dentists in closed Facebook groups, in which "the perplexity seems to be great" and that in some cases the closing of practices is being considered. On websites for practical needs, it is now pointed out that there are acute delivery bottlenecks for respiratory masks.

Helmut Kesler, member of the board at the Zahnärztekammer Berlin and responsible there for questions of practice management and hygiene, advocates “not to panic. All necessary treatments can be carried out until further notice, taking the necessary care. ”Berlin dental practices have been trained in hygiene issues by the chamber for years, says Kesler.

"Extended protective measures" - this includes closed protective gowns, hoods or particularly safe protective masks - are "only indicated in the treatment of patients already diagnosed or suspected of having coronavirus infection in hospitals". The risk that Berlin dentists have contact with infected people in their practices is “very low at the moment”, says Kesler.

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) says that breathing masks are currently unnecessary in everyday life . There is no scientific evidence that wearing masks makes any sense in everyday life, said RKI Vice President Lars Schaade at a press conference last Friday. Soap and water would suffice in normal everyday life.

In the foreground is compliance with the hygiene regulations, says the hospital company

The German Hospital Society yesterday emphasized that German hospitals were prepared for a corona epidemic. "The clinics are set up in the best possible way and are preparing intensively for increasing numbers of infections and patients," said CEO Georg Baum.

One of the most important measures was the "checking stocks and stockpiling with personal protective equipment, pharmaceuticals and virus-destroying disinfectants". There are also enough resources in the homes to isolate patients in the event of an epidemic. "An isolation room can be almost any hospital room with its own wet room," says the DKG. “It is important that an existing closed ventilation can be deactivated. Rooms can also be retrofitted with locks. In such a case, the entrance area of ​​a hospital room, for example, is separated with foils.