The health minister should look to other factors in Germany´s response - including a continually well-funded health systemo Coronavirus latest updateso See all our coronavirus coverageWhen Olfert Landt first heard about a novel virus ravaging parts of China, he sprung into action, and by the 10 January, according to Bloomberg, the microbiologist, working with researchers at Berlin´s Charité hospital, had developed a viable test for the disease. TIB Molbiol Syntheselabor GmbH, the small company Landt leads, had produced more than 4 million tests by 12 March. It´s the kind of story that has fuelled claims that Germany´s strong biotech industry has provided the country with a unique advantage in combating the coronavirus. Donald Trump retweeted the Bloomberg story about Landt. The UK´s health minister, Matt Hancock, who held his first press conference on Thursday after recovering from coronavirus himself, didn´t mention Landt, but he was quick to point to the strength of the German pharmaceutical industry as the primary reason for the country´s aggressive testing regime and low death rate: `My German counterpart, for instance,` Hancock said, `could call upon 100 test labs ready and waiting when the crisis stuck, thanks in large part to Roche, one of the biggest diagnostic companies in the world.` Related: What the 1918 flu pandemic can teach us about coronavirus drug trials | Laura Spinney Continue reading...
|
